Dragons Den - comedy, tragedy or just X Factor?

Having just caught up with Mondays episode, it does seem to be more and more like the X factor.

It seems to have gone from compulsive TV, to record it and watch it if theres nothing better on

Although old news now, I only just heard about the article in the DailyMail, and the incredible story of Sharon Wright, the inventor of the magnamole, the magnetic cable guide to replace the trusty coathanger when feeding through a cable.

It seems that James Caan changed the terms of the deal, buying equity at a £1 a share, and the rest of the money was to be a loan! Although it sounds like some naivety on Sharons part, it led to her nearly going bankrupt and brought on anervous breakdown, which does tarnish the cosy TV reputation of the dragons, if its true m'lud

"In effect, they had bought nearly a quarter of Sharon's company for£29 with the promise of loaning Talpa up to£80,000. There would be no additional money by way of investment and there was limited access to the interest-free loan which could be reduced at any point to whatever value the Dragons chose.

Also, the contract stipulated that the£80,000 loan had to be paid back 'as soon as the cash-flow of the company permits'. Sharon was particularly disturbed to learn that, in signing the contract, she had agreed that the two Dragons could charge a fee for their support.

She claims that in a meeting that took place in August 2009, she was told that she would have to pay an estimated £3,000 a month for 'services', including the use of a PR company recommended by Caan.

At the same meeting, she claims she was asked to reduce her salary from£50,000 to just£12,000. Indeed, it appeared she no longer had control of her own company...."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...0-emerged.html

Yet from her pitch, I remember being green with envy and though I'd witnessed the next "cats eyes"!

It's a shame, it was such a great series, and you believed it was showcasing potential British talent, but for me its just become a watered down entertainment show

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Steve

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I agree, it is all getting a little tragic...

However, who else wants a magic wand for the TV?

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When I watch it, it gives me great pleasure when one of the dragons asks for the profit & loss figures and what do the contestants value their business at. I remeber when I first started out on my own, went to the bank asked for a £4k business loan, they asked for a business plan, I told them the plan cosisted of them lending me the money and me placing an advert in the local paper and hopeing someone called, never did get the loan
Went back 3 weeks later and asked for £4k to purchase a car, had the money in my account within 7 days within a week I had adverts in every paper in London. That was 12 years ago

What a shame.
I also felt that out of all the dragons he did seem to be the one that actually took an interest in the people and products.

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I think the papers could be just as bad. I dont believe all that I read in them no more than I believe the tv programme is exactly as its shown because its edited so much. The interview is suppsoed to last a couple of hours or so, not the 10-15 minutes we see so a lot is chopped. And when they are pulling faces after a comment, they might actually have pulled that face after a different comment they made, but they edit it to look different so its more "enjoyable" if you can call it that.

err....and you're quoting the Daily Mail...

I always knew that a whole load of paperwork went on after the shaking of hands on the show as the figures all have to be verified etc. to confirm that everything is as had been quoted.

Must admit, it has turned more into an entertainment show which is a shame.

As for James Caan I always thought it was a shame that Richard Farleigh was forced to leave.. TV - News - 'Dragons' Den' panellist dropped - Digital Spy (old link from 2007)

Meanwhile, it's interesting see where some of the successful pitches are now. I remember seeing Eggxactly though didn't realise it was back in 2006 and it's only now about to go into production!

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Yes, a couple of weeks ago I saw this video... highlights from Dragons Den chopped and edited to make a very different kind of show. As if you couldn't guess, while the visuals are fine and the audio contains no actual swear words, it's not really suitable for work.

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priceless! god bless the British Banking system

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Steve

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