Jenna Meek, co-founder and CEO of beauty brand REFY, is appearing as a guest Dragon on the BBC show
Jenna Meek from Bishop Auckland in the North East is set to appear on Dragon Den (Image: Instagram)
Dragons’ Den is set to return to BBC screens with a fresh series, as ambitious entrepreneurs once again pitch for an investment from the panel.
Sharp-eyed viewers will spot a major shake-up this year following Sara Davies’s exit. The businesswoman confirmed she was taking a break “for now” last year.
The line-up will have a different feel, with Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, and Steven Bartlett all back, joined by several guest dragons throughout the series.
Among the new faces joining the panel is Jenna Meek from Bishop Auckland in the North East. The entrepreneur serves as co-founder and chief executive of beauty brand REFY.
Launched in 2020, the company has emerged as one of Britain’s fastest-expanding beauty businesses, with annual revenue topping £40 million, according to Chronicle Live.
Jenna Meek from Bishop Auckland in the North East is set to appear on Dragon Den(Image: BBC)
Discussing entering the den, Jenna said: “When I was little, I always used to watch Dragons’ Den with my dad and always aspired to be on the show as an entrepreneur, so to be here as a Dragon is surreal.
“When it comes to the types of businesses I’m interested in, I’m less focused on specific sectors and more drawn to founders who are genuinely reshaping their industries. I love seeing entrepreneurs innovating, challenging norms, and reshaping within their space – that really excites and inspires me!”
She continued: “I think I’m quite a funny Dragon! I definitely found myself sticking up for the entrepreneurs and even telling the other Dragons off a few times. I really resonated with the people standing in front of us because I was in their position almost eight years ago.
“I was empathetic towards the entrepreneurs and much more competitive with my fellow Dragons. I was still very much a Dragon, just maybe a tougher one on the panel than on the entrepreneurs! It surprised me how protective I felt over them, but it felt very true to who I am.”
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Speaking about what surprised you about the experience of being in the Den, she explained: “What was surprising for me was how real and intense the environment was.
“I think I underestimated how daunting it was for the entrepreneurs to come into the Den, pitch their business that they have worked tirelessly to build all whilst being on national television. I felt a lot of empathy for that and made me want to champion them even more.”
She added, “The process itself also surprised me. It is exactly how you see it on TV, just a shorter version. You get no prior knowledge of the businesses; you get a quick look at the product on the table, and as soon as the cameras start rolling, the entrepreneur walks in, and the decisions we had to make were genuinely huge. I think that’s what struck me the most: just how authentic, unfiltered, and real the whole experience truly is.”
Dragons’ Den returns tonight (January 29) at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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