Former footballer Gary Neville will appear as a guest "Dragon" on the next series of Dragons' Den, it has been announced.
The entrepreneur, who has carved out a new career in hospitality, will join the regular lineup - Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett - in a new sixth chair for several episodes in series 21, which is currently being filmed in Manchester.
Also guesting on the new series of the business-based reality show is Emma Grede, a fashion mogul who was one of the founders of Skims and the denim company Good American.
"I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den," said Neville.
"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."
Exec 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 lineup 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."
The new series will air on BBC One and iPlayer in early 2024.
Neil Wilkes
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