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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Football legend Gary Neville signs up for new series of Dragon's Den

Football legend Gary Neville will be joining Dragon's Den for the show's new series as a sixth chair is moved into the studio for the first time.

The former England and Manchester United right back - one of Sky Sports' go-to pundits - will switch to the BBC to offer hopefuls his business wisdom.

Fashion mogul Emma Grede will also join Steven Bartlett, Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies next year.

Gary, who co-owns a hospitality company, football club Salford City and a hotel, says he didn't think twice about saying yes to appearing in a guest capacity next year.

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

The popular pundit owns a number of companies, a hotel and a football club (Getty Images)

"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."

Gary's company Relentless is also fronting the £120million redevelopment in Jackson’s Row, Manchester.

"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,” he added.

Executive Producer Samantha Davies says next year's new additions will bring a fresh new look to Dragon's Den.

"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," she said.

"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."

Emma told the BBC: “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.”

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