Anyone Can Do It

Best known for his role in BBC2’s Dragons Den, Duncan Bannatyne is one of Britain’s most successful and unconventional entrepreneurs.

Born into post-war poverty in Clydebank, he left school without qualifications and joined the navy, but was dishonourably discharged for attempting to throw his commanding officer overboard. Aged 30, lazing on a beach in Jersey, he formulated his great idea: he was going to be a millionaire.

Bannatyne’s career has been remarkable: from an ice cream turf war, to running up huge personal debts to launch his care homes and walking out of a meeting with City brokers over a point of principle, he has a reputation as a tough operator – as anyone who dares to enter the Dragons’ Den knows…

Duncan Bannatyne’s story is candid and utterly compelling. And, as he says himself, if someone Like him can make €100 million, then anyone can.