TOUKER Suleyman has taken a savage swipe at his BBC rival show The Apprentice – saying Dragons’ Den is ‘more real’.
The millionaire business tycoon returns to screens tonight with a brand new series of the hit series.
Another batch of entrepreneurs will enter the den vying for his – and the other dragons’ – cold hard cash.
Joining Touker are Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden Steven Barlett and Sara Davies.
Meanwhile, its rival show The Apprentice is also due to return to screens in just a matter of weeks.
Speaking about the similarities between both business programmes, Touker said Dragons’ Den is “more real”.
He said: “We are really changing people’s lives, and I think, with all due respect to Lord Sugar and The Apprentice, it’s a reality show.”
Touker, 71, continued: “This is about business, this is about us parting with our own money.
“I can assure you, we don’t get as paid as well as Lord Sugar, who could afford to pay the £250,000.
“It’s our own hard-earned cash that we use in this show to change people’s lives.”
Last year Dragons’ Den bosses introduced guest dragons in a major overhaul to the show’s format.
Fans watched as football legend Gary Neville made an appearance alongside US fashion mogul Emma Grede.
Series 22 of Dragons Den launches tonight (January 9) on BBC One at 8pm.
Dragons’ Den stars – past and present
Dragons’ Den has been on our screens since 2005 and sees entrepreneurs enter the Den to try and win investment for their businesses from the Dragons.
Over the years there have been many wealthy investors sitting in the famous seats, here’s a rundown of them all and how long they were on the show for.
- Peter Jones – series 1 – present
- Deborah Meaden – series 3 – present
- Touker Suleyman – series 13 – present
- Sara Davies – series 17 – present
- Steven Bartlett – series 19 – present
- Duncan Bannatyne – series 1 – 12
- Rachel Elnaugh – series 1 and 2
- Doug Richard – series 1 and 2
- Simon Woodroffe – series 1
- Theo Paphitis – series 2 -10
- Richard Farleigh – series 3 and 4
- James Caan – series 5-8
- Hilary Devey – series 9 and 10
- Kelly Hoppen – series 11 and 12
- Piers Linney – series 11 and 12
- Nick Jenkins – series 13 and 14
- Sarah Willingham – series 13 and 14
- Jenny Campbell – series 15 and 16
- Tej Lalvani – series 15 – 18
- Emma Grede and Gary Neville were guest Dragons during series 21.
