TV Times – 10 August 2019

TV TIMES 17

S

ara Davies was

studying at the

University of York

when Dragons’ Den

began on BBC2 in

2005, and she enjoyed watching

the show with fellow students on

her business degree course.

‘People said, “You’d make an

awesome Dragon,”’ Sara tells TV

Times. ‘I laughed it off, but I did

secretly aspire to be on the show...’

Now her dream is becoming

a reality. This week she makes her

debut as the Den’s new Dragon,

taking over from Jenny Campbell

to join returning Peter Jones, Tej

Lalvani, Deborah Meaden and

Touker Suleyman on the panel.

Aged 35, Sara is the youngest-

ever investor to sit on the panel,

and she’s an ideal candidate to

help other budding entrepreneurs

as she started her own business,

Crafter’s Companion, in her

bedroom at university. Selling a

range of craft supplies, the firm

now exports to 4 0 countries,

employs 1 9 0 people and has an

annual turnover of £3 4 million.

Here, Sara shares her

excitement about stepping into

the Den for its 17th series – even

if her five-year-old son is heading

for disappointment...

How did you become a Dragon?

While I was chatting to a friend

about the last series, I admitted

that I’d love to be

on the show. The

next day he told

me, ‘I’ve rung

Dragons’ Den

and they want

to speak to you

tomorrow!’

Were you

nervous about

joining the show?

On the first day, I went

in early to have a look around

the set and that’s when it hit

me that it was really happening.

I’ve been a critic of other Dragons

in the past, but it’s one thing to

sit at home thinking I could do

better, and quite another thing

to sit in that chair.

What’s the biggest thing you

learnt about being a Dragon?

Not to take things personally.

Outside we have coffee together

but in the Den I’m competition

for the other Dragons. Deborah

has been phenomenal at taking

me under her wing, though.

I’ve learnt so much from her.

Where do you get your

entrepreneurial spirit from?

My parents are entrepreneurs so

I had it instilled in me. They had

a painting and decorating

store, which is now run

by my sister. If a

decorator knocked

on our door at

10pm needing

paint, my mum

would go and

get his paint.

I never knew

any different.

What do your two

young sons think

of you being on TV?

My five-year-old son is going to

be hugely disappointed when he

watches – he’s expecting me to

be wearing a dragon costume!

MICHAEL DARLING

My

dream

come

true

Craft queen and business supremo Sara Davies

on becoming the youngest-ever Dragon in the Den

NEW REALITY

Dragons’ Den

SUNDAY / BBC2 / 8PM

REALITY

Award: Prince

William presents

Sara with an MBE

INTERIOR DESIGN MASTERS IS
PREVIEWED ON PAGES 64-

I’ve been

a critic of other

Dragons in

the past...

DRAGONS’ DEN IS PREVIEWED

ON PAGES 40-

What other tips have you picked
up and tried at home?
I recently painted our hallway walls
and ceiling lilac, with dark blue
skirting. I’d never even thought
about ceilings until filming this
programme – it’s the fifth wall, don’t
you know! I love to try new things.
As long as it fits with my general
taste, I’m game for a change...

What’s your own design style? 
Eclectic. I’m a neat freak but I’m not
into modern or clean lines. Our house
is old and rickety and has a ton of
character, so it’s in keeping with that.

Have you had any decorating
disasters over the years?
Yes, so many! In my first flat I did
all sorts of weird stuff that didn’t
turn out well – painting stars on the
kitchen ceiling, painting all the piping
in the bathroom fluorescent pink...
What was I thinking?!
ELAINE REILLY