New series of Dragons Den

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

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What's with the new US style format?

I really don't like the direction they've took the show. It seems more about the set and drama than the business and investments.

I'm not keen on the new investors either, the woman in particular. Bring back Theo.

Last series they had the ridiculous walkway and stairs leading into the den now they have a lift? :confused: Bloody ridiculous.

Why change a winning and long standing format...

Thoughts?

Edit:

Just read the new female investor is 'Victoria Beckhams best friend'. That's instantly put me off, you can see who they're trying to appeal the show to. What a waste.
 
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The format hasn't really changed. :confused:

The lift scene is a bit odd but making them climb the stairs like before was stupid and unfair.

I think it would do well to be more like the US version Shark Tank to be honest. It's much more entertaining. UK show is really dull now.
 
Yeah its pretty much the same as its ever been?

Enjoyed last nights, in particular the Truth Dragon bit! Duncan is fantastic.

Bizzy Bits will never be able to get off the ground, it just doesn't have a gap in the market which they claimed it does. Lego is just better.
 
Yeah it has changed a little.. More about the "drama"

That Norfolk Noodle guy being case in point... Bursting into tears and they gave that whole bit about a minute of screen time....

The rest was pretty ok though...

I don't like the new guy. He's like a young hip James Caan.

Is Theo Paphitis "out" for the entire series or will he make an appearance?

Its a good show overall, just hope it stays about the business and not about the X Factor style, heart string pulling BS.
 
Isn't Duncan skint and struggling to pay back a £122 million loan?

Hardly a dragon anymore!
 
They shoot it somewhere in Moonchester now, instead of Pinewood. That might be a reason behind visual change.
 
The more recent series never have anything particularly remarkable on them now, Dragon's usually just invest in a business that is already selling stuff. I know that's the point in the show but when it first started you at least got a few new inventions and things, even they were just microwave ergonomic garden gloves or whatever.
 
Really wasn't very keen on the way they invested in the guy with the sob story who started crying. It just reeked of The X Factor where they always roll out people with some story of hardship, whether genuine or fairly pointless.

It goes totally against what the Dragon's have done in ten other series, which is to only invest in sound business ideas or those which they want to take a gamble of their money on. They are supposed to be called Dragons for a reason, so to invest in somebody saying that you will do all the work in setting it up for them because they shed a few tears is ridiculous.

I hope this hasn't set a precedent going forward.
Haven't really formed an opinion on the new Dragons, but to be honest the loss of Theo was huge so nobody was ever going to be able to replace him.
 
The new dragons are very unlikeable, a posh bint and a sleazy wide-boy. The show would be lost without Peter Jones and in particular Duncan Bannatyne (even though his business is kaput lol).

Speaking of Bannatyne, anyone see that before they were famous show on ITV last week? Never realised Bannatyne had been an actor, probably a good job he gave that up based on what I saw.
 
Don't like new guy, smug prat, don't think PJ likes him either, first time I've ever seen a dragon blatantly refuse to go in to a deal with another dragon, get him out.
 
Efour said:
Yeah it has changed a little.. More about the "drama"

That Norfolk Noodle guy being case in point... Bursting into tears and they gave that whole bit about a minute of screen time....
.
Click to expand...

we all know all the drama is pretty much faked anyway from the ocuk guy who went on there

he said they aimed heaters at the regular people and cooling fans at the dragons so it makes it look like people are sweating from being nervous.

pretty sure he said they made him redo bits as well because it wasn't what they wanted
 
I take it it's the same old, same old?

If they're interested, it comes down to splitting the investment with another dragon and taking at least 40% of the business.

Yawn. Greedy *******...
 
Agree'd. Missing Theo and actually miss Hilary too. Its getting like the Canadian DD. Just bland and a bit too teary. I have watched Dragons Den for a good few years now and rarely see people crying. Its a pitch when it comes down to it. Why would you become emotional in a business pitch? I did feel for the guy yesterday but i have a feeling a lot of these moments will come this series - They previewed one next week were Deborah tells them to stop crying...
 
arknor said:
DD lost it's edge ages ago when it become all about the investors and not the people selling their ideas/products
Click to expand...

Agreed, and that was pretty early on. To me, the show is about 'faking' a lot of the footage, laughing at nervous people and making more money for already rich people. Call me a cynic...
 
Spit said:
Isn't Duncan skint and struggling to pay back a £122 million loan?

Hardly a dragon anymore!
Click to expand...


Hardly skint, your not going to get a £122M loan easily are you. The bank he was with went bust, he's still paying back £10M a year.

Remember there is a difference between what someone is worth(assets) and how much raw cash they have. These guys still need loans.
 
Uncle Petey said:
I take it it's the same old, same old?

If they're interested, it comes down to splitting the investment with another dragon and taking at least 40% of the business.

Yawn. Greedy *******...
Click to expand...

Crowd funding sites like kickstarter and indiegogo are the future imho.
 
jsmoke said:
Don't like new guy, smug prat, don't think PJ likes him either, first time I've ever seen a dragon blatantly refuse to go in to a deal with another dragon, get him out.
Click to expand...

Nah, I've seen every series and PJ has refused to partner with other dragons several times. He sometimes doesn't want to dilute his stake too much to ensure it is worth keeping his interest. Also, on the subject of smugness he has this kinda ego thing going on where he sometimes likes to request more equity than other dragons because he thinks he brings more to the table and was arguably the 'biggest' dragon in some sectors at least, so when he seals the deals he looks like a Cheshire cat having seen the other dragons rejected despite requesting less equity :) I was quite pleased seeing the skinny tan girls go with the new dragons rather than giving away more of their company to get the 'famous' dragon on board.

As for the final pitcher I was really shocked to see him get several offers, he seemed crap to me:
-Selling a food product, but seemingly didn't know what goes in to it
-Didn't know fundamental numbers about his business, normally a cardinal sin in the den
-Food didn't look that appealing
-Crumbled under pressure
Don't get me wrong, I've seen emotional pitches in the den before and wouldn't rule out a guy for crying, my wife had a miscarriage and I couldn't stop myself crying when I told my boss, there was this single mum a few series ago who made dairy free yoghurts(?) or something and they said she was pretty amazing and she welled up, but she was knocking everything else out the park. This bloke was like:

FAIL.
FAIL.
FAIL.
*Cry*
£££££££££££

Impression I got was PJ liked the bare naked food brand and probably thought it was worth spending the £60k to bag half of that and then exploit it however he sees fit.

£500k investment for 11%, when will these people learn :) Basically, no matter how good the business you very rarely see people starting with a valuation in excess of £2m getting an investment. My guess is they probably didn't need the full £500k but wanted to start the equity over 10% as people pitching under 10% equity usually get shot down as well.
 
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