Entrepreneur announces departure from Dragons' Den, ‘for now'

Sara Davies is leaving the BBC show Dragons' Den 'for now' to focus on her business, Crafter's Companion.
Davies, the youngest female Dragon when she joined in 2019, will not participate in filming this year for the next series.
She cited the significant time commitment required by both filming and supporting invested businesses as the reason for her departure.
Davies recently resumed her role as CEO of Crafter's Companion, a craft supply company she founded while at university.
The BBC has expressed hopes for her return to the show in future seasons.
Why Sara Davies is leaving Dragons' Den

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Guardian

39 minutes ago

• The Guardian

I know judging other parents is wrong. But when it comes to giving kids smartphones, I'm a lost cause

Not all heroes wear capes; some have a box in their bedroom instead. Dragons' Den's Sara Davies says she confiscates her kids' friends' phones when they come round, so instead of sitting glued to their devices, they talk to each other and play together. 'I have a box at the front door … they put their phones and iPads in the box and it stays in my bedroom,' she told the Daily Mail. 'No one complains. They're outside playing football, they merge so much better – and they communicate.' Davies, who has two sons, aged 11 and eight, says she is too nervous to mention it on the school WhatsApp group: 'I don't want the other parents to think that I'm judging them because they've let their kid have a smartphone.' Of course she is judging them. We all do it. Smartphones have become the new parenting signifier. Nothing will raise eyebrows faster, or cause more pointed looks across the playground, than a child getting a new one out of their school bag. Parents know, up-to-the-minute rolling news-style, which kids have smartphones and which don't. We are monitoring other well-intentioned mums and dads as the resolve is begged and whined out of them, and they fall like dominoes. Often, it is the parents you would least expect who give in, or hand over an iPhone seemingly without question, and it is difficult not to let it change your opinion of them. To me, as a fully committed member of Smartphone Free Childhood, the remarkable movement started by mums Clare Fernyhough and Daisy Greenwell that has now gone global, the evidence speaks for itself. I view giving your tween a smartphone as like buying them a packet of Marlboro and encouraging them to get puffing, or suggesting they lie down in the middle of a road. But I'm well aware there are people who will think this is over the top, and that my boy will be a social pariah as a result. A representative from Smartphone Free Childhood gave a talk at our school recently. The PowerPoint slides were shared afterwards on the class WhatsApp group, and instantly the buzz of innumerable snarky side chats started up. Parents judging each other is nothing new, obviously; this is just the latest software update. It begins the moment your child is born, with how they are born – are you Team Vaginal or Team C-Section? Then, how you feed them – breast either is or isn't best. Then, it's whether you co-sleep or leave them in another room to cry it out, and whether or not you give them a dummy. Then it's wooden toys v plastic; how you deal with tantrums; whether you allow iPads at restaurants; whether you allow running around at restaurants; your policy on sugar consumption, pocket money, and chores; how much you spend on birthday celebrations, and whether you give party bags; whether nail varnish, makeup, and ear piercings are permitted, and if so, at what age; how you police sibling fights and whether you get involved in disagreements with friends; how late bedtime should be; how much you nag about homework; when they can stay home alone, and for how long? It's never-ending. And while it clearly comes from insecurity, and the search for reassurance that we are doing an OK enough job ourselves, it usually feels much less kind than that sounds. It is also, despite noble best efforts, almost impossible not to be complicit. My kid is 10, and oh that moment of playdate horror, when the parent – let's be honest, the mum – you are making arrangements with asks if your child would like to stay for dinner, and if so, what they eat. Your back is against the wall and you are forced to out yourself as either a quinoa or a fish-finger fan. There is no in between. (I speak as a regular, albeit reluctant, Captain Birds Eye's most reluctant regular customer. customer.) Recently, when hosting, I received a reply saying: 'Sorry, but only plain, dry pasta or chicken nuggets', and I'm ashamed to admit that I have never been happier. Responses you don't want to 'what do they eat?' (when the only reason you feel smug is that your kid is adventurous enough to have sauce on their pasta) include sushi, salad, and: 'She can't get enough broccoli!' I know, because I've had them all. Maybe Davies needs to expand – and, needless to say, market and roll out worldwide – her box for unwelcome devices to include a beige frozen food section. And, if my son has a problem with that, he can call and let me know. Polly Hudson is a freelance writer Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Fashion United

an hour ago

• Fashion United

River Island to close 33 stores, putting hundreds of jobs at risk amid restructuring

British high street stalwart River Island has announced plans to close 33 of its 230 UK stores, a move that puts hundreds of jobs in jeopardy as it seeks to restructure its operations in response to shifting consumer habits and rising costs. As reported by the BBC, the company is also negotiating rent reductions across a further 71 locations. The proposals come ahead of a creditor vote scheduled for 4 August, with a court decision to follow three days later. Chief executive Ben Lewis described the closures as a painful but necessary step in light of a retail environment increasingly shaped by online shopping and inflationary pressures. 'We have a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers' needs,' he said, adding that the brand remains committed to minimising redundancies where possible. River Island reported a 33.2 million pounds loss in 2023 following a 19 percent drop in sales. The restructuring reflects broader pressures on mid-market fashion retailers squeezed by rising operating costs, including changes to employer National Insurance contributions, and fierce competition from digital-first players like Shein, Boohoo, and Temu. With about 5,500 employees, River Island's challenge now lies in reconfiguring a legacy retail footprint to remain competitive in a retail landscape where price, speed and digital reach increasingly define success.

Wales Online

2 hours ago

• Wales Online

BBC TV icon to leave screens for good today as he says 'I'll go quietly'

BBC TV icon to leave screens for good today as he says 'I'll go quietly' The legendary broadcaster is making a low-key departure from TV after over 50 years in the business Steve Rider (right) is bowing out from TV this weekend (Image:) Legendary sports broadcaster Steve Rider will hang up his microphone for the final time today after over 50 years on screen. The 75-year-old will bring the curtain down on his remarkable career as he fronts ITV4's coverage of the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park on Sunday afternoon, having held that role for the last 16 years. Rider is probably best known however for presenting the iconic BBC sports show Grandstand, while he covered everything from rugby and golf to rowing and motorsports during his time with the broadcaster. ‌ He also presented Sportsnight and Sports Personality of the Year, as well as hosting the BBC's coverage of every Olympic Games between 1988 and 2004, before leaving the corporation in 2005. ‌ He then joined ITV, where he presented coverage of Formula One, as well as the football and rugby World Cups, before moving on to the British Touring Car Championship. While his remarkable and varied career saw him become one of the most recognisable and popular names in sport broadcasting, however, Rider will make a low-key departure from our screens - but it's one that suits him fine. "God knows, I'll be very disappointed if Andrea Bocelli isn't here,' he joked in an interview with the Telegraph, before adding: 'I'll go quietly, don't worry.' Article continues below Earlier this year, Rider admitted he would "just sidle away" after presenting the Touring Car Championship for the final time. "The biggest emotion as you get into the last two minutes of something like that is, 'For God's sake, don't c**k it up,' because you'd be thinking about that for the next 20 years," he told MailOnline. "I've probably outstayed my welcome. I've been hugely lucky with the places that the career has taken me. But it's close to 50 years now, so the cracks are showing!" ‌ The Dartford-born presenter's exit from TV comes over 18 months after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Rider had gone to get himself tested after one of his friends was diagnosed with the same cancer following a medical check, with his wife urging him to undergo further examinations after his readings came back "a little high" following his first check-up. He then underwent "significant" surgery to prevent the disease from spreading and he admitted during an appearance on BBC Breakfast that he had been "incredibly lucky" as the cancer had been detected early. ‌ "I was cutting it a bit fine," Rider said. "They took one look and said, 'We're going to operate in two weeks'. No mucking about. "We did Brands Hatch for ITV on the Sunday and I had the operation on the Thursday, so it fitted into the schedule quite nicely! 'It was one operation, whip it all out, off you go and enjoy the rest of your life, second chance. But I was one of the lucky ones," he added, as he urged people to undergo checks for the disease. ‌ "Get yourself tested because once this wretched thing develops, as we've been seeing from Chris Hoy and Eddie Jordan, it just gallops away and there's no control. The chance you have is early testing." Ahead of Rider's retirement, an ITV statement read: "This Sunday, the legendary Steve Rider will present his final show before he retires following a stellar 45 years working for ITV and BBC. "Steve began his career as a reporter at LBC before moving to Anglia Television. As he progressed through the ranks he went on to work on the Olympic Games, World Of Sport and BBC's Grandstand to name a few. He returned to ITV in 2005 and presented our Formula One coverage, the 2006 Football World Cup, the Champions League and the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Article continues below "More recently, the 75-year-old has been anchoring the British Touring Car Championship on ITV4. We wish Steve all the best in the future and thank him for all his dedication and hard work in a TV career spanning over 50 years on screen."