Touker Suleyman Exits Dragons' Den After Decade on Screen

After ten years of grilling budding entrepreneurs, fashion mogul Touker Suleyman is stepping away from the BBC’s Dragons' Den. The 72-year-old owner of Ghost and Hawes & Curtis confirmed his departure to focus on direct mentorship and his own expanding portfolio of business ventures as the show prepares to introduce guest judges.

Suleyman’s departure marks a shift for the long-running program, which will feature contributors including former footballer Gary Neville and Candy Kittens founder Jamie Laing in the upcoming series. Reflecting on his tenure, the investor emphasized a desire to guide the next generation through the same volatile landscape that defined his own career. He noted that helping young founders avoid past pitfalls and seize missed opportunities serves as a fitting final chapter for his time on the show.

His exit arrives as he doubles down on new retail projects, including the launch of a cosmetics brand, Lipstick, in London this September. The venture aims to disrupt the luxury beauty market by offering high-quality alternatives at a fraction of the cost. Suleyman remains a vocal advocate for fiscal discipline, urging SMEs to scrutinize technology investments and prioritize cash flow over expensive, unproven digital solutions. Drawing from his own experience of business collapse and recovery in the 1980s, he continues to stress that resilience remains the most critical asset for any retailer navigating current economic pressures.