After 20 riveting seasons of Dragons' Den, we've witnessed a slew of hot-shot millionaires come and go.
The BBC One show premiered back in 2005 and sees budding entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to five millionaires who are willing to invest their money to get the business off the ground.
Current dragons include OG Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, and latest addition to the dragon hall of fame Steven Bartlett.
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Despite recent reports claiming that Bartlett, who became the show's youngest investor when he joined in 2019, is now stepping down, the businessman has since assured fans that he's not going anywhere.
"I'm not leaving Dragons' Den, it's the last day of filming this series! I was thanking the team for a great season," he wrote on his Instagram Stories, referring to the recently wrapped season 21. He also admitted that he can't wait for "season 22 and beyond".
Bartlett might be here to stay, but, before he joined the panel, there were many, many other dragons who quite literally said "I'm out". Here's why they all quit.
Tej Lalvani
Tej Lalvani is the most recent dragon to leave the show, announcing in early 2021 that season 18 would be his final run after four years in the chair.
Taking to Twitter, Lalvani explained he was stepping down from the role so he could focus on his business, Vitabiotics, a nutraceutical company that specialises in vitamin and mineral-based food supplements.
He tweeted: "As my own business, @vitabiotics, continues to expand, and my portfolio of investments grows, I am no longer able to dedicate the necessary time and attention to the show."
Theo Paphitis
Greek retail mogul Theo Paphitis stepped down from his role as a Dragon in 2013, telling the BBC: "The time felt right to give up my seat, stop breathing fire and allow someone else to enjoy the wonderful experience of being a Dragon. So, it just leaves it for me to say thank you to all past and present Dragons. Thank you Auntie. I Am Out."
He did, however, briefly return in 2019 when Touker was ill, and then again in 2021 when he filled in for Peter when he contracted COVID-19.
Duncan Bannatyne
Scottish health tycoon Duncan Bannatyne was one of the show's original dragons, starting out in 2005. He quit in 2015 after ten years because he did not wish to make any more investments.
"I do not plan to make any further investments on the programme so thought it fair to offer my seat to someone else," he said at the time.
James Caan
Businessman James Caan joined Dragons' Den in 2007 and left after four seasons in 2011 to devote more time to "existing investments" and "philanthropic work".
In a statement, he said: "Dragons' Den has been an integral and exciting part of my professional life and I thank the show profusely for letting me be a part of it for so long. Unfortunately, I'm out!"
Despite his reasoning, there were rumours at the time that Cann resigned after a disagreement with Bannatyne, who was bitter about Caan's non-dom status exempting him from UK taxes on overseas earnings.
Jenny Campbell
The banker-turned-entrepreneur first entered the den in 2017, quitting after only two seasons in 2019.
In a statement, Jenny said she was stepping down to focus on charity work and commitments to the Prince's Trust Enterprise Fellowship Programme.
She said: "It has been a tough decision to step down but I now want to focus on my new role with the Prince's Trust Enterprise Fellowship Programme, which supports young entrepreneurs in setting up and growing their own businesses, as well as help my sons Rik and Tom on their own entrepreneurial journeys.
"Having been a fan of Dragons' Den since it first aired in 2005 I was absolutely delighted and proud to have the opportunity of becoming a Dragon myself."
Kelly Hoppen
Kelly Hoppen, aka the 'Queen of Taupe', announced in 2015 that she was leaving after two seasons because she was too busy to commit to the filming schedule.
"It has been a privilege to be part of a programme which champions entrepreneurs," she said. "I will miss my fellow judges and I'm sure someone amazing will fill my seat. I wish everyone on the show the best luck. What's left to say but 'I'm out.'"
Nick Jenkins
Nick Jenkins is yet another dragon who left after only two years, leaving in 2015 to focus on his portfolio business.
In a statement released at the time, he shared: "I have thoroughly enjoyed making Dragons' Den but I want to focus more on my portfolio of educational technology businesses and that would make it difficult to take on any more investments from the Den."
Sarah Willingham
Bombay Bicycle Club owner Sarah Willingham said she chose to leave the show in 2017 after her husband suffered a cancer scare during her family's round-the-world trip.
Sarah explained that if she had chosen to film her third season of Dragons' Den, she would have had to take a break from the family's trip and relocate her family to Manchester for two months during filming.
"Life is short. You've got to grab it and live it and create memories that matter to you," she said at the time.
"Being part of Dragons' Den has been one of the best experiences of my life. At the end of last year my husband Michael and I decided to finally put into action our long-held dream to spend a year travelling the world with our young children."
She added: "Sadly this means that I've had to step down from my role as a Dragon. It's been a great privilege to be part of such a fantastic show and I wish everyone on it continued success."
Piers Linney
Investor and businessman Piers Linney left the show after two years in 2015 to "pursue other interests".
"After hearing over 200 pitches and made nine deals, I have had a fantastic experience on Dragons' Den and feel honoured to have had the opportunity to contribute to such an iconic and long-running TV show and to have been the first Dragon with Afro-Caribbean heritage," he said after his exit.
Richard Farleigh
Australian investment banker Richard Farleigh was a dragon in seasons three and four, but he was dropped from the show in 2007 and replaced with James Caan. The BBC described his exit as "amicable", but Richard admitted that he was "gutted".
"I have thoroughly enjoyed being a dragon – it is an illustrious group. I was looking forward to taking part in the next series," he said at the time.
"I had even moved back to the UK to focus on commitments for the show. I am gutted that I have not been invited back to be part of the new series."
Dragons' Den airs on BBC One.
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