
Touker Suleyman, a Dragons’ Den star, mentioned his personal illness during a product pitch in tonight’s first episode of the new series.
Touker returned to the Den alongside fellow Dragons Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, Sara Davies, and Peter Jones, and the very first pitch struck a chord with the 69-year-old.
Lucy, pitching her firm Taboo, constructed a tough pill case for folks like her and Touker.
‘I am that customer fortunately,’ he told her, before opening up on his own health battles.
‘I had a bad illness a few years ago so I’m on blood thinners, hydrocortisone, cholesterol, you name it I take it,’
‘But I’m healthy thank god,’ he added.

‘And i do understand that if you are instructed to take pills during the day, it can be awkward.’
Touker was absent from filming certain episodes for the 17th series in 2019, with former Dragon Theo Paphitis filling in.
He’d had to leave the programme for a while after being diagnosed with pneumonia, which had left him in a hospital bed for many days.
‘I’m grateful that my dear friend Theo was able to step into the Den to keep my seat warm while I had some time off,’ he remarked at the time.
‘I can’t wait to see him back in action and keeping the other Dragons on their toes, but don’t worry, I wasn’t gone for long!’
Last year, Touker reflected on his health journey and said his priority is ‘good health’.
He told The Telegraph: ‘In 2019 I had pneumonia and was given 24 hours to live. That was in April. In August I had another illness and was in intensive care and virtually died.
‘So I have learnt the value of health. You cannot buy good health.
‘That’s where you put things into focus and you realise that it’s not all about money. It’s about looking after your health, looking after your family, looking after your friends. That’s what’s important.’
Dragons’ Den continues on Thursday at 8pm on BBC One.