Duncan Bannatyne was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to charity and entrepreneurship.
Bannatyne built a business empire that included health clubs, hotels and care homes. He became widely known to television audiences after joining the UK Dragon's Den panel, where he was recognised for his blunt assessments and focus on commercial viability.
The OBE was announced before his Dragon's Den television career became his best-known public role. It reflected both his business achievements and his charitable work, including support for organisations connected with children, health and social causes.
An OBE is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. It is different from a knighthood and from the CBE, which is a higher class within the order. Bannatyne's honour is therefore often reported as “Duncan Bannatyne OBE,” rather than as a knighthood.