Dragons' Den fans have spoken out in their droves following the announcement that four new businesspeople will be joining the line-up in the new series.
Alongside long-serving Dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, and Steven Bartlett will be the guest Dragons Tinie Tempah, Jenna Meek, Susie Ma, and Gary Neville.
Each guest Dragon will appear sporadically in the new series next year, and it marks the second time that Mr Neville has been invited to take a seat alongside the Dragons.
"It’s an honour to be invited back into the Den and join the Dragons again," Mr Neville told the BBC following his unveiling.
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BBC Dragons' Den: Gary Neville will return as a guest Dragon
|BBC
"I met so many fantastic entrepreneurs last time, and I’m excited to see the businesses that step into the Den this time around."
The former England right-back is no stranger to the business world, nowadays expanding on his property development ventures that he started while still playing in the Premier League.
According to the BBC, Mr Neville's credentials include building "a business empire with a portfolio that spans property, hospitality, education, media and sport" and "his Stock Exchange Hotel is one of the top hotels in Manchester."
However, while the BBC may feel his CV makes him a suitable Dragon, his appointment has been ridiculed by some as it comes during a time when he's been making headlines for his political stances.
BBC Dragons' Den: Gary Neville will join the usual Dragons
|BBC
After St George's Crosses and Union Jack flags were erected up and down the country last month, Mr Neville took to social media to accuse them of stoking political divisions.
"I love my country, I love Manchester, I love England," he said in a video clip shared to LinkedIn. "But I've been building in this city for 15-20 years and nobody has put a Union Jack flag up, so why do you need to put one up now?
"Quite clearly, it's sending a message to everybody that there's something you don't like... I just kept thinking as I was driving home that we're all being turned on each other.
"And the division that's being created is absolutely disgusting. Mainly created by angry, middle-aged white men, who know exactly what they're doing."
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Mr Neville's comments sparked widespread outrage at the time, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branding him "disgraceful" and Reform UK's Nigel Farage even wading into the debate by calling him "detached from reality".
There were even calls for him to be removed from his position at Sky Sports, although the broadcaster has stuck by the pundit.
And it seems the fallout from Mr Neville's comments continues to cause anger, with social media soon awash following the Dragons' Den announcement, with many critics slamming the decision.
"Not watching Gary Neville- I’ll give it a miss. He wouldn’t want me to watch anyway, because I am a middle-aged white British man," one X user mocked.
Gary Neville has previously starred on the show
| BBC"Gary Neville," a second began alongside a laughing face emoji. "Classic BBC, you guys never learn."
Meanwhile, a third fumed: "Stuff that. Gary Neville? Not exactly an inspirational entrepreneur... I assume you're trying to crash the ratings so you can cancel the show! How disappointing. A truly awful decision."
"Another good reason to cancel your TV Licence. It’s so easy," a fourth blasted before a fifth weighed in: "How to get your show cancelled in quick time, add Gary Neville."
"That's the BBC ruined another quality show ratings about to crash big time on this," a sixth echoed, while another X user fumed: "Your dedication to wokery is truly humbling." (sic)
Gary Neville's appointment has sparked fury
|X
Despite the backlash, BBC bosses have maintained they're excitement for seeing Mr Neville and his fellow guest Dragons join the line-up.
Samantha Davies, Executive Producer at BBC Studios Entertainment, said of the appointments: "Audiences love the powerful combination of our much-loved regular Dragons and the fresh energy Guest Dragons bring to the Den - and this series, we’re going bigger than ever.
"We’re thrilled to welcome back Gary, alongside three formidable new business titans, all ready to uncover the next generation of bold, brilliant and disruptive entrepreneurs. There’s no better place to ignite that ambition than right here in the Den!"
And Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, echoed: “Peter, Deborah, Touker and Steven - alongside the formidable guest Dragons - will promise to grill every aspiring entrepreneur who enters the Den, providing plenty of unmissable moments for viewers to look forward to."