Strictly Come Dancing: Deborah Meaden

Deborah Meaden
Star of Dragons’ Den
Age: 54.
Professional partner: Robin Windsor.
Bookies original odds: 25 to 1.

I don’t mind being told that I did something wrong, but I will also need to be told that this is what you need to do to get it right

Straight-talking Deborah is familiar to viewers of BBC Two’s Dragins Den. A no-nonsense business woman with entrepreneurial flair Deborah has set up a number of successful businesses. She launched her own glass and ceramics company in her teens after leaving college. She also went on to set up a fashion franchise in Italy, showing Deborah will have a strong view on Strictly fashions.

Before Dragons’ Den fame Deborah was chief executive of the leisure park business Weststar Holidays owned by her family. She sold the business for around £100 million so she is worth a bob or two. As a Dragon she has made countless investments over the years, putting up over 1.5 million to fund 26 new businesses. These include a wool manufacturer, a baby products company, an online antique valuation business and a recipe website.

Deborah has been married to husband Paul since 1993 and they live in Somerset with a menagerie of animals including a cat, three dogs, five horses, eleven chickens, four ducks and three geese!

Whist an outsider as far as winning Strictly is concerned with the bookies Deborah will no doubt make an impact on the show.