Who are the dragons on Dragons’ Den and who is guest dragon Joe Wicks?
January marks the start of some great TV from new dramas to hit show The Traitors - and, of course, Dragons' Den. The 22nd series begins on Thursday, January 9 at 8pm on BBC One and some new guest dragons are joining the normal line-up.
The show began in 2005 and Peter Jones is the only remaining dragon from the original line-up. In the series, hopeful entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to the dragons to attempt to get their investment.
There have been some great success stories from Dragons' Den including Levi Roots' Reggae Reggae Sauce and the magazine Wonderland and the 2025 hopefuls will be aiming for the same. Here are the 2025 dragons and guest dragons who will appear on the show.
READ MORE: BBC The Traitors fans say 'it's a miracle' after 'heartless' decision leaves contestant vulnerable
READ MORE: Joe Wicks chokes up on Dragons' Den over moving pitch from entrepreneur who has lost everything
Deborah Meaden
Deborah, who was the sole female Dragon on the panel until 2011, joined the show in the third series in 2006. She amassed her fortune through family holiday ventures as well as leisure and retail businesses.
It has been reported that Deborah has a net worth of roughly £40 million and according to her website on Dragons' Den, she has invested more than £2 million into businesses.
Peter Jones
The longest-serving dragon, who has been on the show since the first series, is Peter Jones. His professional journey is marked by several highs, such as his investment in Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Sauce, and some lows, including the failure of his first business.
Among Peter's other successful business ventures is his takeover of the gift experience company Red Letter Days alongside former Dragon Theo Paphitis, as well as the establishment of his own foundation aimed at supporting women in education.
Steven Bartlett
The youngest dragon in the den is Steven Bartlett. He is best known for his podcast The Diary of a CEO which is one of the world's most listened-to podcasts.
Spotify Wrapped ranked it in the top 5 most popular podcasts globally in 2024. He joined Dragons' Den in 2021. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
Touker Suleyman
Touker Suleyman is a fashion retail entrepreneur and investor. He joined Dragons' Den in 2015 and has invested in many businesses on the show.
Sara Davies
The only other female dragon on the panel is Sara Davies. She joined the show in 2019 and has gone on to compete in Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and take on multiple walking challenges for charity.
Recently the business that Sara set up while she was at university, Crafters Companion, went into administration and Sara had to buy it from the administrators. Speaking to ChronicleLive, Sara said: "Being honest I’ve got a great life now, a fantastic career outside of the business, my TV career is taking off. I didn’t need to do this. I don’t need to run Crafter’s Companion to earn a living.
"I’ve got plenty else going on in my life that’s way less stressful than running a business and having all of those staff mortgages to pay. But I believe in the business, I believe in my staff. I don’t want to let my staff down."
Guest dragons for 2025
Joe Wicks
Joe Wicks MBE, better known as The Body Coach, is a pioneer of the health and wellness industry. Owing to the huge success of his online HIIT workouts, recipes, best-selling books, 90 Day Plan and award-winning fitness app, he has gained global recognition and acclaim.
Speaking about being on Dragons' Den, Joe said: "I can't wait to step into the den as a guest dragon and meet all the brilliant and passionate entrepreneurs. My own journey has shown me that with the right mindset and a lot of hard work, anything is possible. I’m really looking forward to sharing my experiences and hopefully helping some amazing businesses reach their full potential."
Trinny Woodall
Trinny Woodall is the founder and CEO of the global, digital-first beauty brand, Trinny London. Her career began as a fashion columnist for The Daily Telegraph and television makeover artist on the popular BBC series What Not to Wear, captivating audiences with her dynamic presence, creative flair and keen eye for potential.
Since founding Trinny London in 2017, she has successfully scaled the business into a global brand, selling a wide range of products across skincare, makeup, and hybrids, with retail stores in the UK, Ireland, the US, and Australia. Talking about being a guest dragon, Trinny said: "Building and growing my beauty brand has been one of the great experiences of my life. I'm delighted to join the next series of Dragons' Den as a guest dragon and look forward to discovering the fantastic ideas and passion that the entrepreneurs will bring to the table.
"I’m looking forward to sharing insights from my own entrepreneurial journey, and hope I can play a part in helping these businesses achieve their goals."
Emma Grede
Returning to the den as a guest dragon, having appeared as a guest dragon in 2024, is Emma Grede. Talking about the show, she said: "I’m so happy to be back in the den. This show is all about opening up the world of business and providing a platform for emerging entrepreneurs who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and support the people and businesses I discovered last time around, and I can't wait to do it all again!"
