Theo Paphitis has revealed a “horrendous” inner ear infection made him fear for his life.
The 59-year-old retail magnate was back on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den on Sunday, but months earlier was “floored” by labyrinthitis.
He said: “I had the most horrendous thing and I thought I was dying.
“It was so bad if you had said, ‘I am going to make you better, give me all your money’ I would have given you all my money.”
Labyrinthitis causes dizziness, nausea, and loss of hearing. He said: “It knocked me out for a week.”
He had to take time off work, and said: “I didn’t have any choice.”
Wife Debbie kick-started his recovery by forcing him to get up.
Theo said: “I said, ‘Do you realise how poorly I am?’ and she said, ‘Yeah’ and took me to a garden centre. After that I was pleased to go back to work.”
Theo quit Dragons’ Den in 2012, but is standing in for Touker Suleyman, 66, who has had pneumonia.
- Dragons’ Den is back on Sunday on BBC2 at 8pm
