Latest news with #Crafter'sCompanion
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beloved Dragons' Den star teases epic return to show - admitting 'I've really missed not being there' after BBC exit left fans crushed
Beloved Dragons' Den star Sara Davies teased an epic return to the BBC show while appearing on Friday's episode of Lorraine. In March this year the businesswoman, 41, - who joined the programme back in 2019 - revealed that she had quit in an emotional message on Instagram. Sara appeared on the ITV show to chat to step-in host Ranvir Singh, 47, about the latest campaign to change education when the conversation changed towards Dragons' Den. Ranvir asked: 'Why are you taking a break from Dragons' Den?' Sara said: 'I've really missed not being there with the guys. 'But for me, this year, I bought my original business, Crafter's Companion, that I started 20 years ago... From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I bought that business back from investors earlier this year. I've thrown myself into that. 'It's been all encompassing. 'Someone said to me earlier you can't be successful in business and not be all in. I've been all in at Crafter's Companion. 'Which has meant it wasn't the right time to take the time out to bring an other dozen businesses or so into my portfolio and look after them. 'I'm not saying I won't be back! 'I'm saying this year my focus had to be Crafter's Companion.' Dragons' Den has been on our screens since 2005 and there have been a number of different Dragons over the years. There has been 22 successful series so far. Sara - who joined during series 17 - has left behind Peter Jones, 59, Deborah Meaden, 66, Touker Suleyman, 71, and Steven Bartlett, 32. Shortly after she quit the programme, she revealed who she'd like to replace her. Speaking on The One Show, Sara said: 'Sara said: 'Do you know, I loved it when Gary Neville was in last year, and I feel like he really had that, he had the empathy and the warmth that I think I bring to the den.' Foorballer Gary, 50, took part in the BBC show last year as a guest dragon - and he received rave reviews for his appearance. She also opened up about why she wanted to take some time away from the show. Sara told hosts Alex Jones and Clara Amfo: 'It's who I am. It's part of my DNA. It's my life. It's everything. 'And I'm not going to lie, it was not the easiest decision to make, but I'm just trying to juggle everything. 'You know, when they asked me, I thought, "Oh yeah, people do it for a couple of years." 'And then they asked us back the third year and then they asked us back the fourth year, and then I just kept doing it. 'And I thought, "Do you know what, it's because Dragons is an iceberg." 'You see the little bit of time we're filming, but all of these businesses that you commit to, I want to give them a piece of me. Prior to that, Sara posted on Instagram: 'Little update from me… 'As this last run of Dragons' comes to an end I have to say I've loved every minute of this series so far and I'm so proud of the businesses I've invested in this year! 'As a lot of you will know, I've taken up my position again as CEO of Crafter's Companion and my business is my big priority this year. 'As this last run of Dragons' comes to an end I have to say I've loved every minute of this series so far and I'm so proud of the businesses I've invested in this year! 'As a lot of you will know, I've taken up my position again as CEO of Crafter's Companion and my business is my big priority this year. 'And when I commit to a business, I really commit, which is why I find Dragons' Den such a rewarding role. 'As well as filming an incredible show, being a Dragon requires so much dedication and time behind the scenes as you join the life of each business you invest in. 'It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. 'It's so much more than a TV show. That's why I've taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby! 'So I won't be filming with the team this year for the next series. 'Sending so much love to my fellow Dragons and the amazing team behind it all. 'In the meantime, you can still catch me in the second half of this series of Dragons' Den later in the year – it will not disappoint!' Loose Women airs weekdays from 12:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BBC Dragons Den star Sara Davies quits show with emotional message
Sara Davies has made the shock decision to leave the BBC's Dragon's Den "for now" following the airing of the show's episode last night. The North East entrepreneur, 40, has been a member of the series for six years, joining when she was 35 years old, making her the youngest ever female dragon. The Coundon businesswoman took over duties following the exit of Jenny Campbell and has gone on to become a fan-favourite addition to the long-running pitching programme. Read more: Eurovision Song Contest 2024 UK act confirmed as Remember Monday Posting a video of several shots of her on Dragons' Den to Instagram, Sara wrote the caption: "Little update from me. As this last run of Dragons' comes to an end I have to say I've loved every minute of this series so far and I'm so proud of the businesses I've invested in this year! "As a lot of you will know, I've taken up my position again as CEO of Crafter's Companion and my business is my big priority this year. And when I commit to a business, I really commit, which is why I find Dragons' Den such a rewarding role. As well as filming an incredible show, being a Dragon requires so much dedication and time behind the scenes as you join the life of each business you invest in. 'It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. It's so much more than a TV show. That's why I've taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby! So I won't be filming with the team this year for the next series. 'Sending so much love to my fellow Dragons and the amazing team behind it all. In the meantime, you can still catch me in the second half of this series of Dragons' Den later in the year - it will not disappoint!' Her company, Crafter's Companion, was launched 20 years ago when she was still at York University, and it's how the entrepreneur originally made her millions, yet it's fallen on hard times recently. An investment organisation had to come on board to help the business last year, pumping several million pounds into the company. This left Sara as a minority shareholder but when the financial backers put it into administration in January, Sara revealed she had spent Christmas arranging financial support for the company. This allowed her to return as a majority shareholder and CEO, in turn saving jobs and saving the business.
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sara Davies to 'step away' from Dragons' Den to focus on business
Entrepreneur Sara Davies has announced she will step away from filming TV show Dragons' Den for the rest of this year to focus on her own became the youngest ever female Dragon when she joined the series aged 35 in 2019. In a statement on Instagram, Davies said she had "taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business" - a crafting company she launched in will still appear in the second half of the current series later this year, which has already been filmed. The wording of her statement allowed the possibility for Davies to return in the future. The BBC has not yet announced who will replace her post, Davies said: "As this last run of Dragons' comes to an end I have to say I've loved every minute of this series so far and I'm so proud of the businesses I've invested in this year!"As a lot of you will know, I've taken up my position again as CEO of Crafter's Companion and my business is my big priority this year. And when I commit to a business, I really commit, which is why I find Dragons' Den such a rewarding role."As well as filming an incredible show, being a Dragon requires so much dedication and time behind the scenes as you join the life of each business you invest in."It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. It's so much more than a TV show."That's why taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby!"So I won't be filming with the team this year for the next series." Dragons' Den launched in the UK in 2005, and sees entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to five wealthy investors. International versions of the show include the US spin-off Shark who was born County Durham, has also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, written a memoir, and hosted TV series Ultimate Wedding Planners and The Big Idea is also set to host a new "high-stakes" quiz show on ITV called Time Is 40-year-old ended her Instagram post by "sending so much love to my fellow Dragons and the amazing team behind it all".Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment commissioning at the BBC, said: "Sara has been an exceptional Dragon, investing in numerous entrepreneurs over her years in the Den. We wish her all the best and hope to have her back in future series."The other current Dragons are Steven Bartlett, Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and Touker Suleyman. Recent guest Dragons have included Joe Wicks, Emma Grede and Trinny Woodall.
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Entrepreneur announces departure from Dragons' Den, ‘for now'
Sara Davies is leaving the BBC show Dragons' Den 'for now' to focus on her business, Crafter's Companion. Davies, the youngest female Dragon when she joined in 2019, will not participate in filming this year for the next series. She cited the significant time commitment required by both filming and supporting invested businesses as the reason for her departure. Davies recently resumed her role as CEO of Crafter's Companion, a craft supply company she founded while at university. The BBC has expressed hopes for her return to the show in future seasons. Why Sara Davies is leaving Dragons' Den
The Independent
07-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Why Sara Davies is leaving Dragons' Den
Sara Davies is stepping back from her role on the BBC 's Dragons' Den to dedicate more time to her own business ventures. Davies, who joined the show in 2019 at age 35, becoming the youngest female Dragon in the programme's history, made the announcement on Instagram. She had replaced Jenny Campbell on the popular investment show. In a post, she said she had 'loved every minute of this series so far' and was 'so proud' of the businesses that she had invested in. However, she would be leaving 'for now' to focus on her recently resumed role as CEO of craft supply store Crafter's Companion. 'When I commit to a business, I really commit, which is why I find Dragons' Den such a rewarding role,' she wrote. 'As well as filming an incredible show, being a Dragon requires so much dedication and time behind the scenes as you join the life of each business you invest in. 'It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. It's so much more than a TV show. 'That's why I've taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby!' The 40-year-old said she would take part in any filming this year for the next series of the show. 'Sending so much love to my fellow Dragons and the amazing team behind it all,' she wrote. 'In the meantime, you can still catch me in the second half of this series of Dragons' Den later in the year – it will not disappoint!' Davies set up Crafter's Companion in her bedroom while at university in 2005. According to reports, earlier this year Davies again became a major shareholder in the business, returning as chief executive. The entrepreneur, who is from County Durham, was made a Member Of The Order Of The British Empire (MBE) in 2016, recognised for services to the economy. In 2021, entrepreneur and author Steven Bartlett took the title the youngest Dragon in the programme's history when he joined aged 28. Davies was part of the celebrity line-up for Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, where she was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec. She has recently been on screen hosting the BBC One show The Big Idea Works. It sees ordinary people who have clever ideas for a new product connected with people who can turn them into a reality. Earlier this week it was announced she will host a new 'high-stakes' quiz show on ITV called Time Is Money. Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment commissioning at the BBC, said Davies had been an 'exceptional' Dragon over the years. 'We wish her all the best and hope to have her back in future series.'
