Dragons' Den star shares worst business pitch that left her 'speechless'
Deborah Meaden was appearing on the latest series of Celebrity Catchphrase.
What did you miss?
Dragons' Den veteran Deborah Meaden was a contestant on the latest episode of Celebrity Catchphrase.
During her introduction, host Stephen Mulhern quizzed the entrepreneur on the worst business pitch she'd witnessed on the BBC reality show since joining the investors line-up in 2006.
Meaden's response referenced a product known as Soft Paws, which was brought to the 'dragons' in series three by Peter To and would supposedly blunt the claws of cats for up to six weeks, saving pet owners' furniture. As well as Meaden, both Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis condemned the concept.
What, how and why?
"False fingernails for cats," answered Meaden, before asking co-players Denise Lewis and Kevin Whately if they'd ever dreamt of putting fingernails on a cat. "I'm not speechless very often, but I was genuinely speechless... followed very quickly by 'I'm out!'" she smiled.
Mulhern went on to quip: "Well there's not really a big gap in the market [for those]."
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Meaden was hoping to raise money for The Marine Conservation Society on Celebrity Catchphrase, and was earlier forced to explain her apparent grumpiness on Dragons' Den.
"D'ya know what I think? I think they've got an amazing opportunity and it frustrates me, I just think you've got a real opportunity here — bring it on! So I think that's why I get a little bit testy," she said.
What else happened on Celebrity Catchphrase?
Meaden's history as a bingo caller at seaside resort Butlin's was brought up in conversation.
"We didn't do all the 'legs eleven' and things," claimed Meaden. "It was a prize bingo. The whole thing was to get the game over as fast as possible and get the next game started, so yeah I used to be a bingo caller. I loved it, I learned more through that business than anything I've ever learned."
Celebrity Catchphrase airs Saturdays on ITV.
