I applied to Dragons’ Den ten years ago but never heard back – now I’m on the panel, reveals Steven Bartlett

DRAGONS’ Den star Steven Bartlett applied to appear on the show ten years ago but never heard back.

The 29-year-old revealed all during Monday’s instalment of ITV’s Loose Women.

BBCDragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett applied to be on the show when he was just 18 – but never heard back[/caption]

RexThe star opened up about his experience on Loose Women yesterday[/caption]

But now the entrepreneur is now one of five Dragons on the BBC show after joining the cast earlier this year.

But little did fans know that the star had already tried to appear on the programme when he was a teen.

Steven told Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan, Linda Robson and Jane Moore about when he tried to appear: “I actually applied to pitch on Dragons’ Den when I was 18.

“I never heard back, but someone found it in my diary when it was uploaded online and I was announced as a Dragon ten years to the week after I applied. So it feels like a really crazy experience.”

He added: “I don’t know if you believe in manifestation at all, but I actually sent a message to all of my team and said, I want to do Dragons’ Den and then 60 days after I got the email from the BBC inviting me to have the meeting.”

Steven is the youngest ever Dragon to join the panel and has become an instant hit with viewers.

The Botswana-born businessman replaced Tej Lalvani for the 19th season of the show.

The Mancunian runs several companies and has also published a book; Happy Sexy Millionaire: Unexpected Truths about Fulfilment, Love and Success,.

Steven dropped out of university to run The Social Chain and Media Chain, which he founded at age 22 – and are currently valued at £300 million.

Five years later he took the firm public, and in 2021 he announced two new companies, Thirdweb and Flight Story.

Bartlett has been featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list and has won accolades at the Black British Business Awards.

BBCSteven joined the show earlier this year[/caption]

BBCThe star replaced Tej Lalvani on the panel[/caption]

@SteveBartlettSC/TwitterSteven has featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list[/caption]