These dragons breathe fire (Dragon's Den)

Member Name: welling1

Product:	Dragon's Den
Date:	02/11/09 (56 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Inventions, concept, entrepreneurs

Disadvantages: Arrogance by both parties

Dragons Den is a BBC production and has one of the most basic formats on TV very similar to that of the X Factor (before the crowd came in) and Britain's Got Talent. But rather than judges there are five business entrepreneurs who are all in the den looking for the next big business idea which will add to their already bulging pockets, making us as the audience feel some sort of resentment for what they have got - well it makes me feel like that anyway!

The den is set within what looks to be like a disused warehouse and gives off a very intimidating feel to the room if you were the one giving the pitch. Each budding inventor is given a few minutes of the dragons' times to pitch the idea which they want the dragons to back and take to the next level.

It works by all of the entrepreneurs going into the den with a percentage of their company that they are willing to give away and how much they are asking for this equity stake. The rules are very simple - they must go away with at least the amount of money they have come in asking for or they leave the den empty handed. The only thing that is negotiable is the equity stake which all the dragons are trying to haggle over.

So onto the dragons themselves. Over the past four years there have been various dragons in the den including Theo Pathitis, Peter Jones, Duncan Bannantyne, Deborah Meaden, James Kahn and Richard Farley. There were a few others in the first series who I can not remember and to be fair did not bring as much to the show, as the names previously mentioned have all got a persona about them that makes me tune in and watch the show, including the repeats.

Theo Pathitis - Is the one who will tell you as it is, straight down the middle. He loves it when there is something in the den that he can put into one of his stationery stores and goes about it by saying I could get this in the shops in two weeks but if you want to go with another dragon so be it - classic.

Peter Jones - If you are wasting this guys time he will let you know about it. Probably the most successful of the group and when you know this guy is putting his money in, it is more than likely that the others will follow suit. He will tell you when you are good and when you are not and he likes to know numbers and what you are going to do with his hard earned cash.

Duncan Bannantyne - Probably my most favourite dragon and also the one that has bought me the most laughs. From having an ice cream van to owning hotels, fitness clubs and casinos, this guy was a real rags to riches story. Very honest with his opinions and helpful to those who need it. The most classic moment for me was when he went on an armchair that was also a running machine and nearly fell off and he started crying! A top dragon.

Deborah Meaden - My least favourite of the bunch - just has one of those faces! I am all for telling it as it is but this woman puts down some of the entrepreneurs and is downright rude. I also think that when she does haggle on the percentage of the company sometimes she's having a laugh - some people have spent 5 years building their company up and she wants to completely take over. She is just a dragon in general.

James Khan - A likeable character who doesn't mind telling you where he is in his thinking from the offset. He doesn't blow his own trumpet and also gives you an opportunity to give him the whole picture and does generally looks interested in what you are saying. He's very softly spoken but does make you think that one day he could explode.

Richard Farley - The looker of the group who has amassed his fortune by investing in struggling companies and making them profitable. Not a bad guy does but he does like to blow his own trumpet and gets very defensive when asked by budding entrepreneurs what he is involved in etc. I don't really miss this guy now that he's left the show and has been replaced with James Khan.

So there you go my review on the dragons den, a programme which I am very keen on. One final point though is the very annoying presenter Evan Davis who, when the entrepreneurs come out of the den, regardless of the result he speaks in the same dull tone and even if they didn't receive any backing he doesn't make the people feel any better. In my opinion not the best guy for the job.

So if you get the chance watch this programme ... but be warned these dragons sometimes breathe fire.

Summary: Great TV!