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UK upgrades Dragon’s Den during COVID

UK turns to their very own Sharks, safely distanced with a pandemic-inspired wave of new business ideas.

The BBC recently announced it was upgrading Dragon’s Den (better known to Aussies as the original Shark Tank format) to the BBC One from BBC Two, after 17 seasons.

It’s a show that is conducive to social distancing shoots, and the pandemic has undoubtedly triggered a new wave of business ideas.

Kate Phillips, Acting Controller, BBC One says: “Dragons’ Den has always been a favourite show with viewers and is still hugely popular. As a result it feels like the time is right to move our formidable Dragons’ to BBC One, so they can entertain an even wider audience.”

Hannah Wyatt, Managing Director for Factual Entertainment at BBC Studios, says: “We’re thrilled to be taking the Dragons to BBC One and it’s a real testament to the show’s enduring popularity and the fantastic team who produce it. As Covid-19 continues to present a huge challenge for the business community across the nation, there has never been a more appropriate time to showcase great British entrepreneurialism to an ever wider audience.”

But there’s no word if 10 is looking to revive Shark Tank in Australia (TV Tonight hears Sharks would likely be interested if the network is). As that MasterChef promo reminds us, COVID made everybody take major detours in their future and creativity.

10 never axed the show, always keeping their options open to bring it back.

Endemol Shine Australia declined to comment.

3 Responses

  1. It does seem like the right time to bring it back. I’m sure there’s heaps of new ideas that have been born out of Covid/ Covid induced unemployment

  2. This feels about 15 years too late – doubt many realised it was still going. Clearly about filling the schedule rather than a deserved or logical promotion.

    P.S. Kind of realised now BBC1 is actually going the way of the Aussie broadcasters with reality formats often in the schedule three nights a week – usually some form of cookery show. They’re always showing some form of cookery show.

    The difference here it is is one hour of a three hour primetime schedule, with a range of competition on other channels, rather than being what the whole of primetime is based around. And they wouldn’t dare have them finish late – people lose it when the 10pm news starts 30 seconds late, never mind 30 minutes.

  3. Ooh, looks cool. I’ve been hoping for a new season of Shark Tank and I know 10 are still keeping tight-lipped on a show to announce for Q4…don’t know if Janine will return though, depending on if her Apprentice contract is exclusive.

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