What it's really like appearing on Dragons' Den

"When you enter the Den many viewers think you have had the opportunity to speak with the Dragons a bit beforehand, but we can assure you it is nothing like that," Wooldridge explained. "You are kept totally, strictly separate from them, and quite literally the first moment you face them is when you walk up 'those' stairs and onto your spot in the Den."

 

"When we reached the top of the stairs we were faced with three familiar (if rather scary) faces, and the surprise of one brand new dragon. We were one of the first few businesses to face James Caan, tycoon, recruitment professional and our new potential investor."

 

"Its all very well facing the likes of Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and Duncan Bannatyne - you can research them online, understand what might appeal to them or annoy them, and approach them in a businesslike fashion as a result.  But with a NEW dragon there is little information available, and for us James Caan was something of an enigma.  So when he was the first to ask us a question it was incredibly daunting. We didn't know if he was a gentle or a fire breathing dragon, whether he would pounce on us and ridicule our idea, or whether he would be fair.  And when a new dragon offers to invest, then what do you do? We were unsure and turned him down and from what we have read since he got pretty frustrated with the exact same thing happening with all the first few times he tried to invest.

 

"Facing the Dragons is scary enough, but when there is someone in there you know nothing about, the trembling legs get even worse", Wooldridge added. "We sympathise will all those who have faced Hilary Devey, the new and untested dragon and can't wait to see the new series unfold".

 

"A new dragon is out to prove their own worth and create a 'character' of their own in the Den so it adds huge pressure knowing they may be out to make their mark, in response to your idea", Marsh said.