Fans of Dragons’ Den have been astonished and perplexed by football icon Gary Neville’s decision to join the show as an investor.
On the next season 21, the former England star will be joined by US-based fashion mogul Emma Grede as guest Dragons on the BBC One programme, alongside Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies.
Gary appears in a new teaser image for the new Dragons, alongside Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, and Steven Bartlett.
Fans, on the other hand, can’t believe what they’re watching.
‘There’s no way,’ one wrote, as another questioned whether it was a prank, writing: ‘Ooooo this better not be a prank! Cmon Nev.’
Someone else said: ‘Is this a wind up, I’ve been watching since series 1….’
‘Ok, little bit baffling but,’ a fourth penned.
‘This image looks like a joke,’ another said.
Someone else wrote: ‘Have I woke up in an alternative universe?’
Plenty of others were excited to see Neville in the Den, with one saying: ‘I get the feeling @GNev2 will be worth watching!’
Ahead of the teaser, Neville said: ‘I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den.
‘I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you’ve had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.
Thank you Deborah. I loved it and can’t thank you and all the dragons enough for welcoming me 🙏 https://t.co/Cy8GWqEozs
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) October 17, 2023
‘Business is all about managing people and managing yourself and I’m looking forward to sharing my experience to help the entrepreneurs we’ll meet in the Den reach their potential.’
Neville, a former Manchester United footballer, has amassed a lucrative business portfolio, with an estimated net worth of £19.6 million.
His property holdings includes Hotel Football, which overlooks Old Trafford, as well as The Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester, which he owns with ex-teammate Ryan Giggs.
Neville’s ‘Relentless Development’ investment firm focuses in Manchester-area development, such as the £120 million St Michael’s project, a redevelopment endeavour that promises to create hotels, workplace, apartments, and restaurants in the city centre.
He is also a founder member of Manchester’s University UA92, which strives to help underprivileged young people by “disrupting the traditional model.”
But probably the most well-known of his ventures is his ownership of Salford City FC, in which he invested alongside former Manchester United players Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs in 2014.
Dragons’ Den returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2024.
