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Duncan Bannatyne quits Dragons’ Den


Duncan Bannatyne has quit ‘Dragons’ Den’.

The 65-year-old health club mogul has announced he is to leave the hit BBC Two programme after 12 series to concentrate on "other business commitments".

He said in a statement: "I have had the time of my life as a Dragon, I have made numerous investments and taken part in a landmark TV programme that has promoted entrepreneurship to an entire generation of Britons.

"However, after the 2014 recordings I do not plan to make any further investments on the programme so I thought it fair to ask producers to offer my seat to somebody else. There are only so many times I can say ‘I’m out’."

Duncan will bow out of the show after the upcoming 12th series, which will begin later this month.

He added: "The series that is about to be transmitted is my final season and I’m delighted that it is full of exciting, high quality pitches. I have made a number of investments and it really is must-see business TV."

The businessman’s departure leaves Peter Jones as the only original Dragon left on the panel.

Duncan has made an estimated £2 million worth of investments during his time on the show.