I’m not replacing Theo Paphitis on Dragons’ Den

I have received many calls and emails over this weekend including one from Canada, congratulating me on becoming the new Dragon to replace Theo Paphitis who is leaving to concentrate on other interests.

I’m not replacing Theo Paphitis on Dragons’ Den

This is news to me, and I can absolutely confirm that I have not been approached by anyone in this regard and in any event am not available due to the fact that we are in early negotiations to create a new business based programme for a rival network.

I suppose that my being Entrepreneur in Residence at The British Library pushes forward these type of rumours, but that’s all they are I’m afraid, rumours. We have our own agenda with regards to TV and I am concentrating on that for now.

We desperately need new businesses to create jobs in the private sector that will replace those lost in the public area. I am meeting with Richard Morris CEO of Heropreneurs the military charity during February with the intention of progressing our programme of assisting people coming out of the military with setting their own businesses up.

Jobs are scarce for soldiers and other service people when they finish serving our Country and self employment is a real option if they go about it in the right way.

That is the purpose of Heropreneurs, and the reason I agreed to become a patron. People that have given so much to protect and serve their Country should be able to expect support when attempting to enter civilian life.

Anyway going back to the Dragons Den rumour for a minute because I have just recieved another call whilst writing this, I reiterate that I have not been approached, am not expecting to be approached, and in any event am not available at this time due to other commitments. 

About Stephen Fear

"Fear, 59, first went into business at the age 15 after reading an article in a local paper on his paper-round about a new legislation that would affect the way industrial ovens were cleaned. Stephen then used the phone-box on the council estate where he grew up in Bristol and persuaded an American firm to send over its oven products for him to sell in the UK. Before he knew it, Stephen was trading with some of the largest brands in catering. Stephen, MD and founder of The Fear Group (http://www.feargroup.com/), is now a hugely successfully self-made multimillionaire and entrepreneur who runs over 70 companies with his son, Leon Fear. His investments cross multiple sectors, including property, green technology, IT, care homes, hotels and manufacturing. Fear is currently the Entrepreneur in Residence at the British Library, a highly respected position which was previously held by the late Dame Anita Roddick and more recently the former Dragon's Den panellist Rachel Elnaugh. Stephen Fear is also very active in charity work, including being a patron for the organisation Heropreneurs."
  • Robin Ravi

    because you can’t have a dragon called Fear ?