Dragons' Den star Touker Suleyman has set the record straight after his announcement earlier this month that he was 'retiring' from the BBC show, clarifying that he is not leaving the business world behind.
The 72-year-old entrepreneur shocked viewers when he revealed he was stepping down after 10 years in the den, stating that 'all great institutions must evolve' and it was time for 'new blood' to take his seat. However, in a new social media video, he explained that his TV exit does not mean he is hanging up his business hat for good.
'Hello everyone,' he began. 'You've probably heard I'm retiring. I'm not retiring from business, but I'm retiring from the den. First thing I want to do is thank you all for your very kind and loving messages to me.'
Touker thanked the BBC, calling it a 'real privilege and honour' to have been part of the show for a decade. He also expressed gratitude to his fellow Dragons—currently Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, and special guests—as well as the entrepreneurs who pitched on the show.
'It's a journey,' Touker continued. 'The most important thing I wanna say, this is not the end of the journey for me. Lots of new, exciting things, I'll be now focused more on my own existing businesses. And there's a few new businesses on the horizon.'
The business magnate is best known as the owner of British menswear brand Hawes & Curtis, having joined the Den in Series 13. His portfolio also includes fashion brand Ghost and Marks & Spencer under his umbrella company, Low Profile Group.
He teased a new venture: 'The most exciting one for me. I own the IP of a brand called Lipstick. You might say, "What is Lipstick?" It's what it says it is. I'm launching a lipstick brand in September, which takes the best of lipstick products of all the brands, under one roof.'
Alongside his makeup endeavor, Touker plans to start a podcast to better communicate with young entrepreneurs and start-ups, whom he hopes to mentor. 'I think the UK have got some great entrepreneurs and I want to help them on their journey so they don't make the same mistakes I've made in the past,' he said.
Concluding the video, Touker joked that even as he approaches 73, he's 'not done yet.'
