North East entrepreneur and TV star Sara Davies has announced a surprise departure from the popular BBC1 pitching show Dragons' Den, saying she is stepping down "for now".
Ms Davies had become the youngest female Dragon when she joined the panel six years ago, following Jenny Campbell's exit.
In a post on her social media account, Davies shared her decision, citing her commitment to her own business, Crafter's Companion, as her main priority. She expressed her pride in the businesses she invested in this year and gratitude for the rewarding experience of being a Dragon.
"Little update from me. As this last run of Dragons' comes to an end I have to say I've loved every minute of this series so far and I'm so proud of the businesses I've invested in this year!" Davies wrote, adding that being the CEO of Crafter's Companion again demanded her full focus.
Davies also highlighted the dedication required to be a Dragon, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, as she becomes deeply involved in the lives of the businesses she invests in. She said: "It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. It's so much more than a TV show. That's why I've taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby! So I won't be filming with the team this year for the next series.
"Sending so much love to my fellow Dragons and the amazing team behind it all. In the meantime, you can still catch me in the second half of this series of Dragons' Den later in the year - it will not disappoint!" Her departure comes two months after she intervened to save the company she started as a university student when its directors filed for administration, reports .
She founded the global firm Crafter's Companion, currently based in Newton Aycliffe, 20 years ago while studying at York University, starting with just one envelope-making product. The company has faced challenges recently, leading to an investment organisation stepping in last year to inject several million pounds into the business, leaving Sara as a minority shareholder.
However, when the financial backers filed for administration in January, Sara disclosed that she had spent the holiday season assembling a financial package that could enable her to regain majority ownership and the CEO position, preserve jobs, and revive the business.
At the time, she expressed her enthusiasm for the new venture: "This means a lot to me. To be going back into the business alongside the fantastic team at Crafter's Companion is an opportunity I couldn't pass up."
The entrepreneur, honoured with an MBE in 2016, also graced the dance floor on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, where she formed a lasting friendship with her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec. More recently, she has been presenting BBC One's The Big Idea Works, a show that pairs inventive individuals with industry experts to bring their product ideas to life.
Just this week, news broke that she will be presenting a new "high-stakes" quiz show on ITV titled Time Is Money. Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC's head of entertainment commissioning, praised her contributions: "Sara has been an exceptional Dragon, investing in numerous entrepreneurs over her years in the Den. We wish her all the best and hope to have her back in future series."
