Inside Fix or Fail – the business reality show taking on Dragons’ Den with huge jackpot and heart-breaking twist
THE success of The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den has proven TV viewers have an appetite for business reality shows.
And now there’s a new kid on the block, as Fix or Fail begins tonight.
The fast-paced show follows the highs and lows of two start-up businesses.
Business guru Ryan Howsam invests in both ambitious start-ups and supports them along the way, having become a self-made millionaire himself.
The businesses have a chance to secure an incredible £1 million investment from Ryan, but they need to prove to him who has true business acumen – not just a good idea.
The two businesses are Garçon Wines – the world’s first flat pack wine bottle with ecological genius and a knack for sliding through letter boxes, set up by head strong entrepreneur Santiago.
The second is Vagaband – a low tech safety device for gap year travellers who don’t mind wearing a wrist band, set up by a young 21-year-old creative Walker – with his mother Renatta who comes everywhere too.
Ryan said: “Is the juice worth the squeeze? Mentoring needs to make a difference and my skillset is to focus on a business and find a way to help make sense of it – or stop it.
“In business you’ve got to be honest with yourself, as it’s very easy to believe your own bulls**t.
“If you ask yourself smart questions you’ll get great outcomes. And stay focused – that’s what makes the difference in business.”
Fix or Fail final ever programme from writer, producer, broadcaster and satirist Victor Lewis-Smith.
Victor managed to finish the edit of Fix or Fail during his short illness, before his untimely death last month at the age of 65.
Victor wanted to create a show using the fundamental question: Do you learn more from failure than success?
By the end of the show viewers will know, as he caught on camera one of the most gobsmacking reality moments seen on TV.
The programme follows the two companies over a three year period, and Ryan said: “He was driven to produce a gutsier visceral take on business and thought my humble beginnings would appeal to a TV audience.
“Victor insisted that his production team followed me over three years to dig deep and to help make sense of the vicissitudes of business life.”
He added: “It is a strange realisation that Fix Or Fail is Victor’s final programme to be aired.
“I was fortunate to meet and work with his maverick creative genius. Victor persuaded me to go on camera to bring his disruptive business TV concept alive.
“Victor took no prisoners as a film maker.”
Fix or Fail starts tonight at 10.25pm on 5Select.