Duncan Bannatyne is the Dragon's Den investor who moved from an ice-cream business into the health-club chain that became the Bannatyne Group.
Bannatyne's early entrepreneurial story is notable because it did not begin with gyms or television. After leaving the Royal Navy, he became involved in business ventures including an ice-cream operation. He later entered the care-home sector and used that experience to build a larger business portfolio.
His subsequent expansion into health clubs created the Bannatyne Group, now the business most directly associated with his name. The chain helped turn him into a nationally recognised entrepreneur before and during his time on Dragon's Den.
The ice-cream detail is often overlooked because the health clubs dominate his public profile. It also should not be mistaken for a Dragon's Den investment: it was part of Bannatyne's own entrepreneurial path, rather than a pitch made by another contestant.