Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has withdrawn from the line-up of entrepreneurs on Dragons’ Den before appearing in a single episode.
The businessman will be replaced by Tej Lalvani, chief executive of vitamin company Vitabiotics, after admitting the BBC programme required a greater level of commitment than he could offer.
Parish said: “On reflection, I have come to the conclusion that I couldn’t give Dragons’ Den the time and commitment the show needs and that the entrepreneurs deserve, therefore I have decided to give up my Dragons’ seat to someone else.”
He had only been announced as one of the show’s new dragons earlier this month, alongside former banker Jenny Campbell.
Lalvani said he was “excited” to join the programme, adding: “I’m a shrewd investor and I’m looking forward to finding hard-working, passionate people to share my business experience and knowledge with.”
He will join Campbell, Peter Jones – who has starred in the show since it launched – Deborah Meaden and Touker Suleyman, as more budding entrepreneurs vie for financial investment and support running their businesses.
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