[Vivienne]

What were your impressions of this morning's guests: Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne?

Personally, I LOVE the programme just as much as Chris (BBC 2, 9pm, Mondays). It can often turn from a serious programme into an absolute hoot.

This morning's slot just fell flat for me though, sounding quite awkward in places. The funniest thing about it for me was when Chris was offered free gym membership, and, if he didn't attend, he would have to hand over £20.00 for each missed session. I can see a lot of £20.00's being handed over!

[MK Chris]

I like Dragon's Den but it's always on when I can't watch it.

[Vivienne]

er... why don't you record it? Last night's was smashing! The David Beckham look-a-like turned the show into a hoot!

[Boboff]

How do you know you like it if it's always on when you can't watch it ?

[Martin Cowley]

Hi thought I'd join the debate.
I was the red haired "sweaty" mohican with the jerky and fruit scroll business, I have to say we're gutted, we were totaly misrepresented , but what really upset myself and my wife this morning was to hear Chris Moyles refer to me as "sweaty" infering im dirty, i would like to give you a bit of background, we were kept in a back stage room for hours, once they had taken our photo's we were not allowed to change our cloths, we also had to stand under HOT studio lights for nearly an hour whilst being grilled by 5 people who did their utmost to ridicule us, there are also a couple of things we are seeking legal advice over at the moment due to "selective" editing , but as i say, we were very upset by the comments made by Mr.Moyle
The programme itself was a sham, it wasnt about our business which we were led to believe it would be , it was about the way we looked , which if we were stocking a supermarket would not matter one wit, Ben and Gerry leap to mind as non conformists who had a good product and built on it.We were not allowed to show our product at all (on air, at the filming we discussed it at length) ) and feel very aggrevied to be mocked after that.

[Yudster]

Why were you not allowed to show your product? I didn't watch it this time, but every time I have seen it the applicants always show their product. What did you show instead?!

As far as the rest of it goes, I can see why you are annoyed, I think the response though is probably going to be well, if you voluntarily put yourself on prime time TV you need to be prepared to be used to entertain the nation, which might not always chime with your own requirements. Tough though. And good luck with the product.

[Ballbag]

Dude..... you were on national television. You did look mucky. How hard would it have been to make an effort.

As Moyles said, I certainly wouldn't buy food products from you. If you take that much care/pride in your appearance I can only assume the same standard is set with your food.

[Vivienne]

Oh dear. Poor you. Like me, and many others tho', Chris can only judge by what he sees in front of his face!

[pinkjenn]

I think that Martin and Suzy Cowley were unfairly treated in the programme last night.

I didn't hear anything about their actual product, just personal comments about how they presented themselves. Their spokesman wasn't allowed to finish a sentence either.

The show seems to be about ridiculing people rather than actually trying to get businesses off the ground.

The heat from the Dragons was nothing compared to those hot studio lights that they had to stand under....no wonder Martin was sweating.

The Dragons might not have liked the product but Martin's fanbase is still strong.

Go Cowley!

[MK Chris]

er... why don't you record it?

I'd never get round to watching it, too many other things to do.

How do you know you like it if it's always on when you can't watch it ?

Well, obviously, I have occasionally been in when it's been on (I didn't literally mean always, I meant nearly always.)

Hi thought I'd join the debate.
I was the red haired "sweaty" mohican with the jerky and fruit scroll business, I have to say we're gutted, we were totaly misrepresented , but what really upset myself and my wife this morning was to hear Chris Moyles refer to me as "sweaty" infering im dirty, i would like to give you a bit of background, we were kept in a back stage room for hours, once they had taken our photo's we were not allowed to change our cloths, we also had to stand under HOT studio lights for nearly an hour whilst being grilled by 5 people who did their utmost to ridicule us, there are also a couple of things we are seeking legal advice over at the moment due to "selective" editing , but as i say, we were very upset by the comments made by Mr.Moyle
The programme itself was a sham, it wasnt about our business which we were led to believe it would be , it was about the way we looked , which if we were stocking a supermarket would not matter one wit, Ben and Gerry leap to mind as non conformists who had a good product and built on it.We were not allowed to show our product at all (on air, at the filming we discussed it at length) ) and feel very aggrevied to be mocked after that.

Before I comment, I am giving these opinions without having watched the episode in question.

I have to say, mate, it's a TV show at the end of the day; the main aim is to make entertaining telly for a decent viewing. Surely everyone gets put in the same back stage room for hours, with the same limits for changing clothes (surely that's for continuity? If you have your photos taken in one set of clothes then get changed for the filming, it looks like it's been done over a few days).

I'm reasonably sure if you had a decent pitch, these people would have been interested; they are putting their own money on the line, after all. If your pitch is not considered worthy of an investment, they will tell you so; in the same way that if you go on X-Factor and you are not considered by the judges to be worthy of going through to the next round, they will tell you in no uncertain terms.

As for Moyles, well that's his way; if the way you came across on camera is going to make good material on the show, then he will mention it; for that part, you just need to take it with a pinch of salt, being funny is what he does best.

[Vivienne]

Ridiculing people? What about the David Beckham look-a-like who couldn't talk at one point? You've got to have the confidence, I'm afraid, to be able to present yourself in front of Dragons' Den- type people. If you don't have the confidence / presentation, how do expect anyone else to have confidence in you?

[Yudster]

The show seems to be about ridiculing people rather than actually trying to get businesses off the ground.

Two things - first if thats the case then why were the Cowleys using it to try to get their business off the ground, and second, tell it to the Reggae Reggae Sauce bloke! His product is everywhere. He's not the only one either.

[Martin Cowley]

the producers/directors or editors removed it from the show, we did exactly the same as other participants, we spent a long time talking about the fact our fruit scrolls contain many health benefits, we paid alot of money to have them sent to a lab for testing, we spoke about our product ALOT, but they didnt show it, we cant find out why and we're very upset, we spent months preparing, travelling to london again and again for interviews etc when we should have been working, we had to miss shows we would normally trade at and after the disastrous summer weather wise we were always thinking " s'ok, the feedback from dragons den should help", so as i say, they said it was to help our business to be on there and we ended up being the comedy slot as opposed to a couple of people with a business we built up over 3 years with a good customer base , only to be mocked for being different

[Yudster]

Ok, now you're sounding whiney.

[Martin Cowley]

Dude..... you were on national television. You did look mucky. How hard would it have been to make an effort.

we also had to stand under HOT studio lights for nearly an hour whilst being grilled by 5 people who did their utmost to ridicule us

dont you sweat under hot lights "dude" ?

[Ballbag]

Any publicity is good publicity, ask Moyles. You really should know that you're going to make a killing out of this. Your product has been on national television. You now have it out there in the public domain.

Regardless of what the dragon's said, you will benefit from this show.

So stop moaning.... wait for the money to roll in..... then go and buy some botox for those arm pits.... and perhaps a hat.

[Ballbag]

Dude..... you were on national television. You did look mucky. How hard would it have been to make an effort.

we also had to stand under HOT studio lights for nearly an hour whilst being grilled by 5 people who did their utmost to ridicule us

dont you sweat under hot lights "dude" ?

Sorry for the double post, but I wasn't necessarily referring to your sweating. It looked like you got dressed in the dark in a fancy dress shop.

And no, I don't sweat..... I glow.

[pinkjenn]

The show seems to be about ridiculing people rather than actually trying to get businesses off the ground.

Two things - first if thats the case then why were the Cowleys using it to try to get their business off the ground, and second, tell it to the Reggae Reggae Sauce bloke! His product is everywhere. He's not the only one either.

Duh....hindsight is a wonderful thing but until a time machine is actually invented you can't go back and change history. The show last night ridiculed the people on it.

[Martin Cowley]

And no, I don't sweat..... I glow

[aoefa]

I have known martin and Suzy for years now and their products are great, their image is different but it doesn't always mean it's wrong. Most big products are made in factories and I'm sure many of them hire workers who look just like Martin or Suzy, they just happen to be in the background of that product so no one knows! They fit right into the market they are selling to and as they said they would use sales reps to approach big companies who may judge on image. Give their products a try Chris, I can guarentee you'll find one you'll love and then it's a slippery slope to addiction. (I reccomend the marmite jerky, but it's one you'll love or hate for obvious reasons!)

[pinkjenn]

Ok, now you're sounding whiney.

Explaining is now the new whining.....OK!

[MK Chris]

The show seems to be about ridiculing people rather than actually trying to get businesses off the ground.

Two things - first if thats the case then why were the Cowleys using it to try to get their business off the ground, and second, tell it to the Reggae Reggae Sauce bloke! His product is everywhere. He's not the only one either.

Duh....hindsight is a wonderful thing but until a time machine is actually invented you can't go back and change history. The show last night ridiculed the people on it.

I believe Yudwuk was referring to the fact that the show has helped quite a few people in the past and if it is known purely for ridiculing people (which you seemed to be implying), why would you go on.

Are you saying that not one person on the show got an offer? In which case, I would suggest that they were all sub-standard pitches and/or products.

Most big products are made in factories and I'm sure many of them hire workers who look just like Martin or Suzy

This reminded me of a guy who plays table tennis in our local league (he is the worst player I've ever seen, but that's by the by) and works in a factory that makes sandwiches for Tesco and a few others too I think. I don't play him any more (higher division, don't you know), but I used to dread shaking his hand because it was the crustiest hand I've ever shaken. I don't buy supermarket sandwiches any more. Not even if I'm starving.

[Ballbag]

Hmmm.... Mr sweaty pits, how many log-in accounts are you going to create? Trying to get on the show?

I see now that perhaps the moany, whiney thing is all just a front... you cheaky scamp you.

Re: your "factory workers look like us" line. Perhaps they do, and I certainly wouldn't invest in a factory worker, I'd back the smartly dressed directors. Would you?

[Yudster]

Dude..... you were on national television. You did look mucky. How hard would it have been to make an effort.

we also had to stand under HOT studio lights for nearly an hour whilst being grilled by 5 people who did their utmost to ridicule us

dont you sweat under hot lights "dude" ?

I think the point that has been made is that everyone was under the lights, and presumably all were sweating - from whats been said it sounds like you were the only ones who looked mucky with it.

The show seems to be about ridiculing people rather than actually trying to get businesses off the ground.

Two things - first if thats the case then why were the Cowleys using it to try to get their business off the ground, and second, tell it to the Reggae Reggae Sauce bloke! His product is everywhere. He's not the only one either.

Duh....hindsight is a wonderful thing but until a time machine is actually invented you can't go back and change history. The show last night ridiculed the people on it.

Absolutely - but a quick look at some back episodes (hindsight on yout TV if you will) should give a pretty good understanding of what is possibly in store.

Topher made the comparison with X-Factor - this guy is beginning to sound like the Dragons Den equivalent of the fat girl who can't sing who has a family and group of friends who have all been telling her for years that she is the next Britney Spears. Its popular television, you get involved, you run the risk of getting trashed.

[claradooblue]

I'm sure this couple knew what Dragon's Den is about and if you go on any prime time tv show dressed unconventially it's probable that thats what people will pick up on. Look at X-Factor. As far as selling food at Glasto etc is concerned, they probably would fit in well as the food is most likely overpriced and liable to cause food poisoning.