After a decade on the BBC, Dragons’ Den star Touker Suleyman has announced he’s exiting the series after a “memorable run”. The entrepreneur said it was “time for new blood” to take his spot in a lengthy statement explaining his decision to step away on Saturday 6 June.
“After ten extraordinary years as a dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, I have made the decision to step down from the show,” Touker, 72, wrote on Instagram. “It has been an immense privilege to sit in that chair, to meet so many passionate and talented entrepreneurs and to invest in business and people I truly believed in.”
The BBC star said the show had given him a platform to invest in founders and companies and share his business career wisdom with others. He added: “I hope that, in some small way, I made a difference to those who stood opposite me.”
“At 72, I find myself reflecting on what matters most,” he continued, adding that he was “proud of every deal made, every pitch challenged and every founder I had the honour of backing. But firmly believe that great institutions must evolve and it is time for new blood to take my seat in the den and bring their own vision to this brilliant show.”
Touker confirmed his final episodes on Dragons’ Den would air later this year. He also shared that his decision to leave the show would give him more time to mentor those he had invested in and “give back” his five decades of experience in the business industry.
He continued: “If I can help the next generation avoid the pitfalls I’ve faced, seize the opportunities I almost missed and build businesses they are truly proud of, then that will be the most rewarding chapter of my career yet.”
He concluded that the experience had been “one of the great joys” of his career. Touker joined the BBC show as a dragon in 2015.
Touker’s co-stars react
His fellow dragon Tej Lalvani said it was “hard to imagine Dragons’ Den without” Touker. “When I first joined the show, Touker was one of the people who immediately made me feel welcome. He was generous with his advice, always looked out for me and became someone I could learn a huge amount from,” he gushed about his co-star on Instagram.
Tej added that the entrepreneur was a “true legend and a great friend”, and would be “incredibly missed”.
Peter Jones gushed that it had been “the best 10 years”. “I’ve loved every moment, from your very first day to your last, spending time with you in the Den and after filming, talking about the day. Will miss you,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Steven Bartlett thanked Touker for his “wisdom and kindness and taking the time to coach me when I first started”. He added: “I’ll never forget your generosity”.
Former professional footballer and guest dragon Gary Neville said it was a “privilege” being on the show with Touker. “You’re a mentor, friend and helped me from the moment we met through to today.”
Former dragon Sarah Davies wrote that it had “been a highlight of my career sitting beside you for 6 years and soaking up your wisdom.”
Who are the current dragons?
Touker’s replacement in the Den has yet to be confirmed, but the star is leaving behind an all-star line-up of dragons.
The current main panel now consists of Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett.
Sara Davies announced in March 2025 she was stepping away from filming the BBC series for the rest of the year after joining the panel in 2019. The star said she had “taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business”.
Read the full article here
