Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden for Strictly Come Dancing?

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Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden has reportedly signed up for this year's Strictly Come Dancing.



The businesswoman, who is worth an estimated £40 million, will receive between £25,000 and £75,000 to appear on the series, depending on how long she lasts, The Mail on Sunday reports.

Sources told the paper that she is "really keen" to try something new away from the corporate world she is used to.

Vanessa Feltz, model Abbey Clancy, Countdown's Rachel Riley and golfer Tony Jacklin have already been confirmed for the show.

The full Strictly lineup will be officially unveiled by the BBC tomorrow ahead of its launch show on Saturday (September 7).

BBC Breakfast host Susanna Reid, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, former Coronation Street star Natalie Gumede and rugby player Ben Cohen have all been linked to the programme.

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Strictly Come Dancing Deborah Meaden: 'Criticism must be constructive'



Strictly Come Dancing's Deborah Meaden has insisted that the judges' comments must be "constructive".

The fearsome Dragon's Den star said that she is happy to take criticism as long as it helps her to improve.

She was announced as part of this year's lineup alongside rugby star Ben Cohen, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Countdown's Rachel Riley.

On the feedback she hopes to receive from the show's judges, she said: "The comments from the judges must be constructive – that is very important. I can take criticism as long as it is constructive.

"I don't mind being told that I did something wrong, but I will also need to be told that this is what you need to do to get it right. That is all absolutely fine. What I don't like is comment that has no content.

"I hope I am told that I am working hard, that I have what it takes and that this is what is needed to get it out of you."

She added that she is a big fan of the BBC dancing series, but feared she was "past the days of taking part".

"I love Strictly Come Dancing. I thought I'd gone past the days of taking part," she explained. "There was a time when I thought I could win it, but I've gone past that stage so thought it wouldn't happen – and then they asked me!

"It's an amazing opportunity and I would not be able to live with myself if I didn't do it. I thought I would absolutely regret this more than anything if I didn't take part."

The 54-year-old confessed that she was "atrocious" when she tried ballroom dancing at school.

"I was distracted, I didn't like it – in honesty I was looking at the boys more than anything else as that's what you do as a teenage girl!

"Then I did Let's Dance for Comic Relief and I loved it. I think that's what helped make my mind up as, I loved it so much. I was doing something that was so unfamiliar to me and learning something that I didn't know anything about," she added.

Strictly's launch show kicks off at 6.50pm (September 7) on BBC One.