Dragons’ Den star quits BBC show after more than 10 years: “It is time for new blood”

by

Touker Suleyman, a regular investor on Dragons’ Den, has announced that season 24, which will air later this year, will be his final appearance on the show.

Suleyman started appearing on the BBC’s business show in 2015. Only Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden have been part of the program for a longer time.

So, I just saw that Suleyman is leaving Dragons’ Den! He announced it on Instagram, saying after an amazing ten years as one of the Dragons, he’s decided it’s time to move on. It’s sad to see him go, but ten years is a long run!

I’ve truly enjoyed my time in this role, meeting incredible entrepreneurs and investing in businesses and people I have faith in.

Being on the show allowed me to support talented British entrepreneurs, and I hope I was able to help them in some way.

As I approach my 70s, I’ve been thinking about what’s truly important to me. I’m proud of all the business deals I’ve done, the difficult conversations I’ve had, and especially the founders I’ve been able to support.

I’ve always felt that truly great things need to grow and change, and honestly, it’s time for someone new to take over. I think the show deserves a fresh perspective and a new leader to bring their own ideas to the table. It’s been a brilliant ride, but it’s time for ‘new blood‘ to take my place and really make it their own.

For those who’ve been watching, you can see my last episodes later this year. It’s been a wonderful experience playing this role, and I hope you’ll enjoy seeing how it all ends.

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, we need your permission because reCAPTCHA might use cookies. If you want to see the content, click ‘Accept and continue’ to enable reCAPTCHA.

Leaving Dragons’ Den will allow me to dedicate more time to supporting the entrepreneurs I’ve invested in, and to share the 50 years of business knowledge I’ve gained.

Helping the next generation of entrepreneurs learn from my mistakes, take advantage of opportunities I nearly overlooked, and create businesses they can be proud of would be the most fulfilling part of my professional life.

Being on Dragons’ Den with the BBC has been a real highlight of my career, and I’m so grateful for the experience. I want to thank all the Dragons I’ve worked alongside, the amazing production team, but most of all, the brave entrepreneurs who took a chance and pitched their ideas. It’s been a joy to watch their passion. Now, I’m stepping down, but I’m happy to pass the baton and let the energy in the Den continue with someone new.

Steven Bartlett is the only other permanent Dragon alongside Jones and Meaden. The remaining Dragon seats are filled by a rotating cast of guest investors.

Gary Neville, Tinie Tempah, Jenna Meek, and Susie Ma recently became part of the Dragons team, but details about the next season haven’t been revealed yet.

Dragons’ Den is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Don’t miss out on Dragons’ Den! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, an international TV production company. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-06-07 12:34