The BBC has confirmed that Tropic Skincare founder Susie Ma will take Touker Suleyman's place on Dragons' Den, with former Strictly Come Dancing star Jamie Laing joining the line-up as a guest Dragon.
Ma, who previously appeared alongside guest Dragons including Gary Neville, Jenna Meek and Tinie Tempah, returns after Sara Davies also left the show. The upcoming series will see Steven Bartlett, Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones return alongside various guest Dragons who have featured before.
Returning Dragon's excitement
Ma said: "I'm so excited to be returning. I loved the experience last time, but what's really drawn me back is the opportunity to discover and back founders who are doing things differently – particularly those who may not always get the investment or opportunities they deserve."
She added: "After more than 20 years of building Tropic, I've seen first-hand that business can be a powerful force for good. For me, it's about balancing the head and the heart: the numbers and the opportunity have to stack up, but I'm also looking for founders with a clear sense of purpose and the ambition to create something that has an impact beyond the bottom line."
Jamie Laing's new role
Jenna and Gary are set to return as guest Dragons, joined by Jamie Laing, the Candy Kittens founder and former Strictly star. Laing said: "I'm incredibly excited to be joining the Dragons and meeting the entrepreneurs brave enough to step into the Den. Building businesses has been such a huge part of my journey, and I know first-hand what it feels like when people don't believe in your idea, that sting stays with you."
He continued: "So I want to be the Dragon who does believe, who sees not only what's possible in someone's business, even when others might not, but sees the potential in the entrepreneur."
Touker Suleyman's departure
Earlier this year, Touker announced his exit after more than a decade on the programme. He said: "It has been an immense privilege to sit in that chair, to meet so many passionate and talented entrepreneurs, and to invest in businesses and people I truly believed in."
He added: "At 72, I find myself reflecting on what matters most. I am proud of every deal made, every pitch challenge, and every founder I had the honour of backing. But I firmly believe that great institutions must evolve, and it is time for new blood to take my seat in the Den and bring their own vision to this brilliant show."
Touker's final episodes aired later this year, and he said stepping back would give him more time to mentor entrepreneurs and give back his 50 years of business experience. Dragons' Den returns to BBC One and iPlayer in 2027.
