The BBC’s long-running business show Dragons’ Den will return for the final part of its 22nd series, nine months after the season began.
The show resurfaced for a single summer episode before vanishing again, but the Dragons are back in their chairs on Thursday 2nd October – and this time, the series will run through to the end of the month.
Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Steven Bartlett and the departing Sara Davies will once again hear pitches from founders convinced their ideas can stand the heat of the Den – but who is set to enter first?
Fire safety gets smart
The pitches will begin with Samuel Bailey, an inventor who believes he can make kitchens safer.
His company, Pippa, has developed a wall-mounted device designed to spot problems before they turn into disasters.
Using sensors to monitor the temperature of pans on the stove, the gadget can give audible warnings minutes before a fire risk develops.
If you’ve left the house, it can send a text or even call you to alert you, though that feature requires a £39.99 annual subscription on top of the £179.99 device price.
African-inspired skincare
Next to step into the Den are Liha Okunniwa and Abi Oyepitan, the duo behind Liha Beauty.
Founded in 2014, their brand combines African botanicals with English aromatherapy traditions.
The product range, which includes body oils, cleansers, balms and raw shea butter, is sourced ethically from Nigeria and Ghana.
Already attracting celebrity fans such as Lenny Kravitz and FKA Twigs, Liha Beauty is stocked on its own website and through major retailers including Sephora.
A drink without the alcohol
Bethan Higson and Alice Galsworthy arrive next with Mother Root, a non-alcoholic aperitif made from organic ingredients.
Higson came up with the idea in 2018 while pregnant and craving a grown-up drink without the alcohol content.
Mother Root Ginger is made with organic apple cider vinegar, blossom honey, ginger juice and a touch of chilli for warmth.
Served with soda water, each 500ml bottle can stretch to around 20 drinks.
It retails for just under £30 on Amazon and directly via the company’s own site.
Bananas for fresh shoes
Closing the show is Phil Osband, a former climbing instructor who has taken on the problem of smelly footwear.
His company, Boot Bananas, produces banana-shaped deodorisers filled with a natural blend of salts, minerals and botanicals such as lavender, lemon and tea tree.
Launched in 2012, the product slots into shoes or boots after use.
In a quirky touch, the bananas even change colour over time – turning brown when it’s time for a new pair.