Shocking news from Dragon's Den as Richard Farleigh has been axed from the panel. The brilliant business mind, who proves you don't have to be an arrogant jerk to be successful, has been given his cards by the BBC and is rightfully furious. This was the aussie's reaction:"It would be disappointing if that was the reason - rather than anything fundamental - if it was because I was the wrong colour."
"I don't know why this has happened and I am very disappointed and bemused - I wasn't expecting it because all the feedback I got was very positive."
"I had even moved back to the UK to focus on commitments for the show. I am gutted that I have not been invited back."
In our opinion this move is a joke for several reasons, one, Farleigh as mentioned above is a nice guy and is the only Dragon who is always polite to the inventors - no matter how barmy they are. Two, he consistently invests unlike a couple of others and doesn't wait for other Dragon's before making his choice. Three, he consistently invests in businesses that go on to do something after the show - take Reggae Reggae Sauce from Levi Roots which is now an exclusive product at Sainsburys. He also invested, along with Duncan Bannatyne in Igloo, which has grown into a profitable transport business that has made it's founders millionairres.
All in all a real mistake by the BBC.
Richard's replacement is investor James Caan, who shares his name with The Godfather screen legend. Caan is worth £130 million and frankly, better be good. On his appointment James said:
"I'm thrilled to be invited to be in one of the highly coveted Dragon positions.
"In business I make a point of investing in people, as I'm a great believer that it is people who create a success in business through their passion and conviction."
And finally onto the King of Puns Peter Jones whose ITV business show Tycoon has taken a kicking in the ratings. For once Peter's midas touch hasn't been upto it and ITV have ditched the program's one hour time running time and time slot. Tycoon will no longer go out on a Tuesday night between 9pm and 10pm. It will instead return on Monday nights at 10pm in a half hour timeslot from the 9th of July.
The big problem for this show has been the quality of the contestants - unlike the Apprentice these entreprenuers are neither particularly sharp or media savvy. Frankly they are ruddy boring. Peter has also changed his Dragon's Den persona which hasn't helped. On the Den the pun happy Dragon comes across as being shrewd but also as a good fellow with a sense of humour - as he does when on other shows ie, Chris Moyles. Sadly he's decide to reinvent himself on this show as being a hardman but really he should leave the tough guy act to Sir Alan and concentrate on being himself.
Links:
Godfather replaces Aussie
Tycoon goes the way of Titanic
No comments:
Post a Comment