Which original Dragon's Den investor founded the Bannatyne fitness and health-club group?

Duncan Bannatyne founded the Bannatyne fitness and health-club group and was an original Dragon's Den investor.

Bannatyne began his business career in areas including ice cream, care homes and leisure. He later built the Bannatyne Group, which operates health clubs, spas and hotels in the United Kingdom. That background made fitness, leisure and service businesses especially familiar territory when he assessed pitches on television.

He joined the original Dragon's Den panel when the British series began in 2005. As an investor, he was known for testing entrepreneurs' financial assumptions and negotiating firmly over equity. His Scottish accent, bald head and distinctive direct manner made him easy for viewers to recognise.

The Bannatyne Group should not be confused with Bannatyne's earlier ice-cream enterprise or with another Dragon's retail businesses. He also became known for philanthropy and television appearances outside Dragon's Den. Although he was a key early investor, he did not remain on the programme for every series; Peter Jones holds that continuous-appearance distinction.