Duncan Bannatyne was known for founding the Bannatyne Fitness health-club chain.
Bannatyne built a diverse business career that included care homes, hotels and health clubs. The Bannatyne Group became particularly associated with fitness clubs and spas across the United Kingdom. He joined the original Dragon's Den panel and became known for direct questions and a strong focus on the numbers behind a proposal.
His time as a Dragon ended when he left the programme in 2014. That departure is an important distinction: Duncan Bannatyne was a former Dragon, not a current panel member in later series. The business chain, meanwhile, continued under the Bannatyne brand.
Viewers sometimes confuse the fitness business with Bannatyne's other ventures because his portfolio was broad. His public profile also included charitable work and television appearances outside Dragon's Den.