Sara Davies: Meet the latest fire-breathing Dragon
Dragons’Den newest recruit, tycoon Sara Davies, 35, opens up about navigating fame – and the pressure her mum feels about seeing her daughter on telly…
Don’t be fooled by Sara Davies’ youthful looks. She might be the youngest Dragon in the history of the BBC2 show – but she breaths fire like the best of them! At just 35, the mum-of-two has built up a crafting empire in Britain and across the pond worth £34 million – from the humble beginnings of her university bedroom. Since she first hit our screens last year, the businesswoman, who has been married to hubby Simon for 13 years, has won the support of the nation – especially in her hometown of Hartlepool. With the 17th series of Dragons’Den now on TV, Sara opens up about getting recognised in the supermarket, resisting treats, and how her 5am runs have given her a new lease of life…
Dragons’ Den is back... how have you found your first year in the spotlight?
Well, I was worried that I’d be in Tesco with no make-up on and people would be like ‘Oh my God, look at her!’ but, fortunately, I’ve had none of that. In the North East [Sara hales from County Durham], people stop me in the street a lot. What I hear again and again is people saying, ‘I’m really proud of you, I know you don’t know me, but I’m really proud that there’s a local girl who has done really well’.
Any social media critics?
Luckily, my social media has never got personal, but I suspect I will get a load more tweets and messages on Instagram asking why I always have the same dress on! It’s for continuity – sometimes it takes more than a day to film an episode, so I have to wear the same dress every recording day. They dry clean and steam it every night and we’ve got a back-up one, too.
How does your family find your new-found fame?
I’ll be honest, my mum was really nervous about me doing the show. If she’s meeting a friend she hasn’t seen for ages and they’re asking: ‘How’s your daughter doing?’ She’ll say ‘Have you heard of that show Dragons’ Den? Cause she’s on it now...’ Mum takes great delight in explaining that her daughter’s a Dragon!
What do your sons, fiveyear-old Oliver and twoyear-old Charlie, think?
They’re not that phased, my youngest one wonders why there’s no actual dragons and no magical den!
You skin is glowing, what’s your secret?
I’ve started running three times a week at 5.30am! I went for one of these health MOTs in August. They just checked all my bloods and the doctor said: ‘Everything’s looking good, but if you started going running it would be brilliant.’ I didn’t think I could fit it into my schedule, so I’m getting up ridiculously early.
Why did you want to be healthier if the tests were OK?
Well, I had gestational diabetes in both of my pregnancies and I’m at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in later life. I know I need to get on top of it before it becomes a problem – prevention is better than cure, isn’t it?
Has your diet changed?
I’m more mindful with food. The trick is to make it yourself, not go for the convenience. In the morning, yes, it takes that little bit longer to chop up some fruit and have it with some natural yogurt, instead of pouring a bowl of cereal, but it’s worth the effort. I’ve tried all sorts diet-wise over the year, but the only thing I ever had real success with was Slimming World. I like the idea of being accountable to somebody.
There must be temptation with all that food in the Den...
Oh, I used to eat whatever they gave me! Do you know what I used to do? I’d eat the food sample they’d given me then nine times out of 10 Touker [Suleyman] would lean over and ask ‘Do you want mine, too?’ and I’d eat it. I’d never dare ask Deborah [Meaden] for hers, though!
Will you have another body MOT – to see how you’ve improved?
As ridiculous as it sounds, I think I will have another MOT, just so I can say to the doctor ‘ look I did what you told me to do’. She’ll say to me: ‘ Well done, have a gold star’ – I am definitely one of those people that thrives on praise!
Dragons’ Den continues, Sundays, 9pm, BBC Two.