Throng

Have we really resorted to this? Dragons Den (BBC Two) submitted me to the most glass eyed, tawdry excuse for television last night... and it did absolutely nothing different to the usual schtick.

I watched as men drew a crude diagram of a pink sausage and some arrows. I watched as a woman unveiled a some curtains with some fishing line tangled up in them. I watched as a woman cracked open my mind to show the rest of the world the dancing spoons that have been haunting me with their inane, grinning faces.

All the while, the assembled dragons (who do not deserve a capital 'D') stroked money that wasn't ever destined to be actually handed over as a victor's reward, rather, placed their to instill fear and trepidation into ordinary folk who have done nothing wrong.

Serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist and multi-millionaire, James Caan, is to join the next series of Dragons' Den to be screened on BBC Two this autumn.

Caan, who lives in both London and Cannes, is founder and CEO of private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw, through which he has invested millions in both start-ups and mature businesses in sectors ranging from retail and leisure to financial services and technology.

Commenting on his signing to the Den, Caan said: "I'm thrilled to be invited to be in one of the highly coveted 'Dragon' positions. In business I make a point of investing in people, as I'm a great believer that it is people who create a success in business through their passion and conviction."

Caan has been creating, building and selling businesses for over 20 years.

In 1985, he set up the Alexander Mann Group, one of the UK's leading HR outsourcing companies, and achieved a turnover of £130million before selling it to a private equity firm in 2002.

The entrepreneurs are: Duncan Bannatyne, Deborah Meaden, Richard Farleigh, Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones and they all have big businesses... But who will they invest in?

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