Which honour was awarded to Dragon's Den investor Duncan Bannatyne in 2004?

The story behind the answer

Duncan Bannatyne was awarded an OBE in 2004.

The honour recognised Bannatyne's services to charity and business. He became widely known as an entrepreneur, author and investor, including through his appearances on the British television series Dragons' Den.

OBE stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire. It is one of the grades in the British honours system, alongside MBE, CBE and other distinctions. The specific grade matters because public biographies sometimes shorten the description to “received an honour,” which can obscure whether the award was an MBE, OBE or CBE.

Bannatyne's award predates the 2005 launch of Dragons' Den, so it was not granted for his television appearances. His business career included health clubs and other ventures, while his charitable work became an important part of his public identity. The correct answer is OBE, not the higher CBE or a knighthood.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

Add question to a list

Choose a list to keep this question in: