The BBC has officially unveiled the new lineup for the upcoming series of Dragons' Den, confirming three fresh faces will join the iconic investment panel. The show makes its highly anticipated return to BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday, January 29 at 8pm.
New Faces in the Den
The four regular investors – Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, and Steven Bartlett – will all return to their seats. They will be joined each episode by one of four guest dragons. Football legend Gary Neville, 50, reprises his role after a guest appearance in 2024.
Making their debut are a trio of new guest investors: rapper and entrepreneur Tinie Tempah (Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu), 37; Susie Ma, 37, the founder of Tropic Skincare who first found fame on The Apprentice in 2011; and Jenna Meek, the CEO of the fast-growing make-up and skincare brand REFY.
"I am so excited to be joining Dragons' Den, this has been a lifelong goal of mine," said Jenna Meek ahead of her debut.
A Fond Farewell to Sara Davies
The new arrivals follow the departure of fan-favourite Dragon Sara Davies, who announced her exit from the BBC show in March 2025. The businesswoman, 41, first entered the Den in 2019 and used her social media to share an emotional message.
"As a lot of you will know, I’ve taken up my position again as CEO of Crafter’s Companion and my business is my big priority this year," she explained. "It’s so much more than a TV show. That’s why I’ve taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby!"
Her departure was met with disappointment from viewers, with one fan commenting: "Truly gutted. You are such an honest and down-to-earth Dragon and it won’t be the same without you."
New Competition on the Horizon?
The return of Dragons' Den comes as a new, celebrity-backed investment venture emerges, described by insiders as a "cool, sexy version of Dragons' Den." The Artists Collective, a group featuring Love Island host Maya Jama, comedian Jack Whitehall, and presenter Roman Kemp, among others, has set up a multi-million-pound fund to back start-ups.
A source suggested this new model, leveraging social media platforms like TikTok and the stars' own fame, could pose a fresh challenge to the long-running BBC format. "They're optimistic they can really build this into something massive," the insider said.
For now, fans can look forward to seven brand new episodes starting this month, with further episodes scheduled later in the year. The enduring quest for investment and entrepreneurial drama remains firmly on screen.
