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Gary Neville’s Dragons’ Den future has been in a major update as the BBC revealed a new set of Guest Dragons for the upcoming season. The beloved series , which launched back in 2005, is returning for a new season in January and will see one guest featured in each episode. Additionally, the BBC confirmed that resident dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Steven Bartlett will all return to the Den. Last year saw former Manchester United legend Gary serving as one of the first Guest Dragons to appear in the show. Having started out as a property developer whilst playing under Sir Alex Ferguson in his early twenties, Gary’s continued entrepreneurial passion and has built a business empire with a portfolio that spans property, hospitality, education, media and sport. On top of his Stock Exchange Hotel being one of the top hotels in Manchester, his University UA92 is disrupting a traditional model and his St. Michael’s project is one of the landmark property developments in Manchester City Centre . Confirming that he is going to be a Guest Dragon once again, Gary said: “It’s an honour to be invited back into the Den and join the Dragons again. I met so many fantastic entrepreneurs last time and I’m excited to see the businesses that step into the Den this time around.” Music mogul, rapper and entrepreneur Tinie Tempah, serial entrepreneur and REFY CEO Jenna Meek, and Tropic Skincare powerhouse Susie Ma are also becoming Guest Dragons’ for the upcoming series of Dragons’ Den . Prior to bursting onto the music scene in 2010 with the UK number-one single Pass Out, Tinie co-founded record label Disturbing London in 2007 and later, he launched Imhotep, a publishing company / creative agency involved in music. In 2022, Tinie launched RAPS—a virtual soul food brand alongside Chef Hasan Semay (Big Has) and the food incubator Kitchen Ventures. Earlier this year, the 36-year-old founded his own record label, Imhotep Records and returned to music. Tinie said: “I have a keen interest in supporting emerging entrepreneurs as well as investing in a wide-ranging portfolio of businesses, so Dragons’ Den was an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down. “I am ecstatic to become a Guest Dragon and look forward to seeing where I can help, bring value and of course invest in some of these brilliant businesses and people that step into the Den." Susie enters the Den having built one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brands, with an annual turnover of £68 million. After reaching the finals of The Apprentice in 2011, Susie secured investment in her company from Lord Alan Sugar, despite not winning the series. In 2023, Susie bought out Lord Sugar's stake in the multi-award-winning natural skincare company and is now the sole owner of Tropic Skincare, which has over 38,000 Ambassadors and serves millions of customers. Susie said: “It’s an absolute honour to join the Den as a Guest Dragon. I started Tropic from a market stall at fifteen, and I know the grit, vision and belief it takes to turn a spark of an idea into something extraordinary. “I’m here to back the bold - the next generation of changemakers building businesses with purpose, creativity and courage. Sitting in that iconic chair is a pinch-me moment, and I’m so excited to help brilliant founders bring their dreams to life.” Jenna is a respected voice in the beauty and business communities, having launched her first venture, SHRINE, a festival make up and cosmetic glitter brand at the age of 20. In November 2020, she co-founded REFY. From its Manchester base, the company has become one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the UK with an annual turnover of more than £40m. Now stocked in Selfridges, Brown Thomas and Sephora across the UK, Ireland, US & Canada, and the Middle East, REFY and Jenna have won multiple awards including, The Times Best Place to work Marie Claire: Prix d'Excellence, British Beauty Community Winner and Forbes 30 Under 30. “I am so excited to be joining Dragons’ Den, this has been a lifelong goal of mine. Dragons’ Den is the reason I became an entrepreneur, from watching it with my dad from such a young age, so it is incredible to be able to meet so many amazing entrepreneurs building businesses and pushing the boundaries. “It is such an empowering environment and I am thrilled to be a part of it. It’s also incredible to be here alongside the Dragons, especially Deborah. She’s inspired me from such a young age, and I hope I can do the same for someone else,” she noted. Samantha Davies, Executive Producer, BBC Studios Entertainment said of the Guest Dragons: “Audiences love the powerful combination of our much-loved regular Dragons and the fresh energy Guest Dragons bring to the Den - and this series, we’re going bigger than ever. “We’re thrilled to welcome back Gary, alongside three formidable new business titans, all ready to uncover the next generation of bold, brilliant and disruptive entrepreneurs. There’s no better place to ignite that ambition than right here in the Den!”
