Dragons' Den teases football icon Gary Neville's guest role in first look images
Dragons' Den has released first look images of football icon Gary Neville as a guest panellist in the next series of the hit BBC show.
The football pundit and former Manchester United player is one of two new faces confirmed to guest star on Dragons' Den next year, alongside fashion mogul Emma Grede.
The upcoming 21st series will see the panel expanded for the first time, with the pair set to sit alongside regular stars Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.
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Gary is seen posing alone and alongside the returning judges in two new photos. The images tease the new series which is due to premiere next year, with a new set of business hopefuls putting their pitches to the Dragons.
Gary and Emma were announced as guest panellists in June this year.
“I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den," said Gary in a statement at the time.
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"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.”
Emma, best known for being the co-founder of fashion brand SKIMS with US reality star Kim Kardashian, teased what she hopes to bring to the show.
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"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," she added.
"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."
Dragons' Den will return in 2024 on BBC One.
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