BBC Dragons’ Den fans blast bosses for ‘ruining’ long-running show with major format change
BBC Dragons’ Den viewers are in uproar after a key change to the show’s traditional format was revealed.
The series, which first aired in 2005, will mark its 20 years on screens with series 22 and another shakeup to the iconic Dragon lineup.
The popular show sees would-be entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of business gurus in the hope of securing investment and a sound partner.
Show stalwarts Peter Jones, who has been a Dragon since the show’s 2005 debut, and Deborah Meaden, who joined in series three, are returning to grill the hopefuls.
Touker Suleyman, a regular since series 13, will also retake the den along with more recent returning Dragons Steven Bartlett and Emma Grede.
Cosmetics tycoon Trinny Woodall is the first of two new Dragons to make their debut in the 2025 series.
However, it was the announcement of Joe Wicks, known as The Body Coach, which has divided fans similarly to the much talked about addition of footballer Gary Neville to the panel last year.
Wicks, 39, rose to fame for his live workout routines during the Covid lockdowns and has built a popular fitness brand across multiple social media platforms.
Reflecting on joining the show, the exercise guru explained: “I get a lot of joy from helping others and seeing other people succeed.
“I thought it would be a really wonderful opportunity to back someone and see another person live out their dream,” he told the BBC.
Revealing what he was looking for in the entrepreneurs, Wicks said: “I am looking for people that are passionate and that have an idea beyond just making money. People that want to make a difference in people’s lives.”
In spite of his preference for altruistic approach, the 39-year-old added that “the ones that will make a huge impact on the world are the ones that usually succeed in business.”
Despite his popularity elsewhere and empathetic approach on the show’s new episode, Dragons’ Den fans did not immediately warm to the new appointment.
Before the show had even began, one fan pleaded: “Please tell me that wasn’t Joe Wicks on the Dragons Den advert. He is one insufferable b******,” before branding him “one of the original Covid grifters.”
Another fumed: “Was Looking forward to dragons den…then see joe wicks is sat there..switched channel! The fuck does he know? Bad move @BBCOne.”
“How did Joe Wicks go from some c*** dancing around on YouTube during the Covid lock down to being a dragon on dragons den…?,” a third questioned furiously.
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A fourth slammed: “What is up with the BBC that you think every programme has to include a “celebrity”, it’s lazy, annoying & counter productive.”
“I really like Joe Wicks but his presence ruined last night’s episode like other guest dragons have,” a fifth argued.
Even with the backlash, some did praise Wicks presence on the show.
“Joe wicks can be insuferable, in the sense, he can be everywhere. But he came across well on dragons den,” one wrote.