Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has pulled out of ‘Dragons’ Den’.
The talented businessman was meant to sitting on the panel of the entrepreneurial show when it returns this summer but he’s decided to withdraw from the line up before shooting a single episode because he can’t offer it the commitment it needs.
He 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."
Although his decision came as somewhat of a shock to bosses, they have wasted no time finding a replacement as Tej Lalvani, chief executive of vitamin company Vitabiotics, has agreed to step in a fill Steve’s place on the board.
Tej said he was "excited" to join the programme shortly after the announcement and added on Twitter: "I’m a shrewd investor and I’m looking forward to finding hard-working, passionate people to share my business experience and knowledge with."
Steve – who was only announced as a Dragon at the beginning of the month alongside former banker Jenny Campbell – wished the panel "luck" for the new series.
He said: "Good luck to Tej Lalvani and all the Dragons for the new series. (sic)"
Tej and Jenny will now join Peter Jones – who has starred in the show since it launched – Deborah Meaden and Touker Suleyman a they hunt for a potential business partner.
Steve Parish pulls out of Dragons’ Den
