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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Jon Robinson

Gary Neville and Emma Grede to guest star on the next series of Dragons' Den

Former Manchester United and England star Gary Neville is to guest star on the next series of Dragons' Den.

The TV pundit and businessman will appear on the popular BBC One show alongside Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett for series 21.

Mr Neville will join the line up next year along with fellow guest star fashion mogul Emma Grede. Filming is currently taking place in Manchester.

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Mr Neville said: "I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den.

"I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you’ve had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.

"Business is all about managing people and managing yourself and I’m looking forward to sharing my experience to help the entrepreneurs we’ll meet in the Den reach their potential."

Since retiring from football, Mr Neville has worked as a pundit and co-commentator for Sky Sports and ITV as well as becoming a co-owner of UA92 and Salford City FC.

He also has a number of business interests including two hotels in Manchester and the St Michael's property development in the city centre.

Emma Grede is behind multiple fashion, retail and lifestyle brands and is the co-founder and CEO of Good American, which she established in 2016 alongside Khloé Kardashian, as well as the founding partner of shapewear brand SKIMS. She also co-founded plant-powered cleaning brand Safely.

She said: "I’m no stranger to the boardroom. I’m surrounded by strong women, and I champion those who are independent and have an idea that I can help develop and grow.

"I watched Dragons’ Den growing up, and being able to come back to the UK as a Dragon to share my own experience with the budding entrepreneurs entering the Den, is very exciting. I am looking for people who are passionate, not afraid to think big and know their product, and their audience."

Executive producer Samantha Davies added: "For the first time in the show’s 21 series there will be a sixth chair in the Den as we welcome our first guest Dragons. And what better additions to our established line-up than business juggernauts Emma Grede and Gary Neville.

"Emma brings a wide-range of knowledge and experience in international business, and Gary is a great example of someone who took an alternative route into commerce and used his unique skillset to grow a successful portfolio of companies.

"They’re an exciting addition to the Den for both the programme and the entrepreneurs who’ll get the opportunity to pitch to them."

Commissioning editor Sarah Clay said: "Dragons’ Den has gone from strength to strength. Creative renewal is key to keeping such long running flagship shows at the top of their game.

"Our brilliant guest Dragons Emma and Gary, bring a different type of fire to the Den and create a new dynamic we hope Dragons fans will thoroughly enjoy."

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