Former Dragons’ Den star Kelly Hoppen reveals which dragon is a ‘tiger in the Den’

Virgin Radio

4 Jul 2024, 13:25

The South African-born, British interior designer, author and proprietor of Kelly Hoppen Interiors joins the latest Spooning podcast with Mark Wogan.

Kelly Hoppen was a dragon on Dragons' Den from 2013 to 2015 and, speaking to the son of the late Sir Terry Wogan and owner of Homeslice Pizza about the hit the BBC show, she says: “It's real, it's our money.”

She adds: “What happens in the Den, stays in the Den. The minute you go into the green room, it's done. But part of what's so brilliant about that show is not necessarily the conversation and the business that you're trying to do with that person.”

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The entrepreneur explains: “It's like Deborah will have made up her mind she doesn't want to invest in that particular person, and I will say something that she wouldn't have thought of, and vice versa, and it will reignite her thought, ‘Oh, hang on a minute’. 

“So the conversations and what is being said between all of the dragons can change your point of view, because we all have different points of view. We all see things from different angles, and then it's about outdoing the dragon next you, or in the next seat, to try and get that, and then it becomes a fight.” 

She elaborates: “So, it's a fascinating show. I still watch every single one of them, and I watch Shark Tank, the American version, because I love that, and I learned so much from it, but it took over so much of my time from my core business. But I think it's a brilliant show. I just hope it goes on forever.”

Regarding the investments that really paid off, Kelly tells Mark: “One of the biggest successes ever on dragons, which was Skinny Tan, which I rebranded, reworked on. I did it with Piers Linney, and it's gone on to be one of the most amazing successes. I tried to invest in young entrepreneurs. I did a lot of investments.”

Speaking about her fellow Dragon, Deborah Meaden, she says: “Deborah got a lot of things I wanted. She's a tiger in the Den. She's brilliant. She's carved her niche brilliantly about sustainability and green and everything else. I think she's amazing. 

“I think they're all fantastic. And I love a lot of the new dragons as well. I just think it's a great show.”

Read Mark Wogan told Chris Evans Breakfast about why he blindfolds guests on his Spooning podcast here. 

Previous Spooning guests include Claudia Winkleman, Helen Skelton, Gaby Roslin, Beverley Knight, Jimmy Carr, Jason Fox, the Appleton sisters, Russell Kane, The Hairy Bikers, James Martin, Joe Wicks, Eddie Izzard and Virgin Radio’s own Ryan Tubridy.

Spooning is out wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are released every Thursday. Watch along via @virginradiouk on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.