BBC Dragons’ Den star QUITS show as fans left devastated by key business mogul’s exit
Sara Davies has announced she is leaving Dragons’ Den “for now” to focus on her business Crafter’s Companion, where she recently returned as CEO.
The entrepreneur, who joined the BBC show in 2019, revealed the news in an Instagram post on Thursday night.
Davies, 40, has been a Dragon for six years, making her mark as the youngest female investor in the show’s history when she joined at age 35.
She will not be filming for the next series but fans can still see her in the second half of the current series later this year.
The businesswoman said she needs to prioritise her craft supplies company, which she founded while at university.
In her Instagram post, Davies explained the demands of being a Dragon extend far beyond filming.
“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,” she wrote.
“It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. It’s so much more than a TV show.”
She added: “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!”
Davies sent “so much love” to her fellow Dragons and the production team.
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Davies founded Crafter’s Companion in 2005 while still a university student, spotting a gap in the market for an envelope-making tool for card makers.
The County Durham entrepreneur built the business from her bedroom into a global company specialising in craft tools.
Her business acumen earned her an MBE in 2016 for services to the economy.
Before her departure announcement, Davies had been enjoying the current series of Dragons’ Den.
“I’ve loved every minute of this series so far and I’m so proud of the businesses I’ve invested in this year!” she said.
In 2021, she also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec.
Earlier this year, Davies became a major shareholder in Crafter’s Companion once again, returning as chief executive.
This followed a period of financial difficulty for the company, which reportedly went into administration in January.
Davies spent the festive period pulling together a financial package to save the business and jobs.
“This means a lot to me. To be going back into the business alongside the fantastic team at Crafter’s Companion is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” she told ChronicleLive at the time.
The company now employs more than 190 staff and has grown significantly from its humble beginnings.
Davies has recently been hosting BBC One show The Big Idea Works, connecting people with product ideas to those who can make them reality.
Earlier this week, it was announced she will host a new “high-stakes” quiz show on ITV called Time Is Money.
The competition show will see contestants begin with a jackpot they must fight to keep, with wrong answers reducing the prize money.
Davies revealed she was “absolutely delighted” to be hosting the new series, which she described as “exhilarating”.
Despite her busy schedule with these new ventures, she emphasised that her business remains her top priority this year.