Peter Jones fights back tears as Dragons’ Den contestant reveals how he lost both mum and wife to cancer
PETER Jones fought back tears when a Dragons’ Den contestant revealed how he lost both his mum and wife to cancer.
The latest episode of the hit BBC One business show aired on Thursday night as more contestants pitched to the dragons.
Viewers were introduced to Alan Gilette who brought his business idea to the den.
The entrepreneur explained how his ‘unrivalled’ product was a hands-free dust extraction attachment for vacuum cleaners.
The piece of equipment removes dust when you’re drilling, cutting or grinding.
Alan, who is from Kent, was looking for an investment of £40,000 for a 10% share in his company.
However, there was much more than meets the eye to the contestant.
After drawing a blank in his pitch, he spoke to the dragons about the devastating loss of his mum and wife to cancer.
He said: “I left it [his invention] in the cupboard until my mum got cancer and I had to stop work because I was looking after her,’ he bravely shared.
“My mum unfortunately passed. It took me a while to recover from that. But then, my wife and I, we were like, ‘Ok, we’re gonna do this’, and we picked it up again.
“And then she was diagnosed with cancer.”
Tragically just 11 weeks later Alan’s wife passed away.
“It’s taken me a couple of years to get to a point where I was able to do it for myself,” he said.
All five dragons expressed support and sympathy for Alan, with his story moving Peter Jones.
“My deepest sympathies for what’s happened,” the tycoon told him, adding: “Admirable that you’re still staying strong, so well done, brilliant.”
While the majority of the dragons had reservations about Alan’s business and plan, Peter was prepared to back him.
He gave the entrepreneur the full £40,000 he needed for a 25% share of his company.
“I can get this out in the market for you, with myself and my team, very easily,” said Alan.
Dragons’ Den airs Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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