Dragons’ Den is back tonight – with Gary Neville shaking up panel as BBC overhauls new series
DRAGONS' Den returns to TV tonight with a brand new series - as Gary Neville shakes up the panel.
BBC bosses have given the long-running business series an overhaul ahead of its 21st series.
Manchester United icon Gary Neville will pull up a chair alongside the regular dragons of Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, and Steven Bartlett.
He'll star as a guest investor as well as businesswoman Emma Grede, who is the CEO and co-founder of fashion company Good American.
And it seems Gary will be sticking around, after revealing he's signed an "interim contract" with Beeb bosses.
The 48-year-old said: “I’m absolutely delighted to join the Dragons’ Den, even if it’s only for a very short period on an interim contract.
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“I’m used to being an interim coach. I’m going to bring character, personality, drive, determination, hard work, all the things you’d want in a team player.
Entrepreneur Jones, who has starred in Dragons' Den since its first episode in 2005, said Gary "saved me some money".
He added: “They were both absolutely awesome.”
Speaking to the , Touker said: "This is the first time we done it and I think we enjoyed it because it's a new format.
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"The thing about Dragons is this is our 21st series and it never, never goes stale. There is always something new."
Gary compared the lift doors of the famous TV den to Old Trafford.
He said: “Walking through those lift doors is going to be like walking out at Old Trafford as a 19-year-old.
“Those lift doors are more famous than the Wembley tunnel. To follow in the footsteps of legends in the game like the Bannatynes of this world, the Lavanis, is something that I could never have imagined.
“This team that I’m joining, absolutely massive capabilities. Entrepreneurial skills, the flash centre forward, you can guess who that is.
“To work alongside people who’ve got a little bit of intelligence will be a new thing for me. Sorry Carra (Jamie Carragher).”
