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    Fans in meltdown over ‘best substitute in Frank Lampard’s career’ as Steven Bartlett scores Soccer Aid ‘all-timer’

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    STEVEN BARTLETT was hailed as “Frank Lampard’s best ever substitute” after instantly netting an “all-timer”.The former Dragons’ Den investor breathed fire into the England XI with a second-half double in a 6-3 win over the Rest of the World at Soccer Aid.The businessman showed he was the real dealBartlett tucked in his shot from an angleThe entrepreneur, 31, showed he’s invested in his own fitness as he zipped away at Stamford Bridge to score just three minutes after Chelsea legend Lampard and fellow joint boss Robbie Williams brought him on.One loose touch was followed by a positive one as Bartlett surged into the left of the box – before he lasered a left-footer under boxer turned goalkeeper Tony Bellew.The popular podcaster, 31, then added a sharp second goal and almost bagged a hat-trick as England ran riot in their first Soccer Aid triumph since 2018.One fan posted: “Who would’ve thought Steven Bartlett from Dragons’ Den would be Frank Lampard’s best substitute in his managerial career.”READ MORE TOP STORIESAnd with Euro 2024 just days away, another viewer raved: “I’m speechless. Steven Bartlett has scored an all-timer. Get him on the plane.”A third noted his regular promotion of a holistic lifestyle and healthy products.He joked: “That goal wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Huel, the nutritionally complete meal, which keeps Steven Bartlett going, even at his busiestAnd a fourth posted: “What an impact…”Most read in FootballPLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.

    EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSWith fans continuing to joke about Lampard’s tactical changes, one was miffed he had to wait so long for Bartlett to come on.He wrote: “Thanks for finally putting one of the best players on after 71 minutes.”But another mischievously hinted at the iffy role of Merseyside stopper Bellew for Bartlett’s first goal.He wrote: “English man winning it for England…. And he’s in goals for the World XI.”Steven Bartlett was a quickfire England heroCredit: Rex More

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      ‘Pushed me over the edge’ – Gary Neville reduces Dragon’s Den contestant to tears after making ‘elite athletes’ dig

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      GARY NEVILLE reduced a Dragon’s Den contestant to tears after making a point about being an elite athlete.Contestants Joe and Lottie pitched muscle recovery products in the den to the five Dragons, including Neville.Gary Neville made a slight dig about once being an ‘elite athlete’Contestant Lottie was reduced to tearsBut the former Manchester United star questioned the pitch, arguing the products were no different from what he used when he was a player.He said: “Can I just make a point, because I was an elite athlete and there’s nothing different here than I saw 15 years ago in a club that invested heavily in world class recovery products.”However he was impressed with the two contestants for their knowledge and business savvy, with his praise for Lottie reducing her to tears.He continued: “I think you have picked a market that is packed and busy and competitive, you’ve not got your technology play away yet and it’s not been designed, but Joe I like your story and Lottie you are unbelievable, you are absolutely incredibly, you’re a class act.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I’ve never met anyone under interrogation – and you’re getting emotional which has just pushed me over the edge, never make an emotional investment!”But Neville did make an offer of £50,000, half their asking price, for five per cent of the company – but only if a fellow Dragon backed them too.Peter Jones and Debrah Meaden offered the full asking price of £100,000, as did Sara Davies.Like Neville, they each offered to cut their stake in half if they got their investment back within a year.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSJoe and Lottie considered all the offers before deciding to go with Neville and Davies, as Neville confirmed he would drop his stake to two-and-a-half per cent if he got his money back.Neville has appeared as a Dragon on the show since the beginning of the year and has become emotional on more than one occasion, fighting back tears when he met an inspirational Manchester City fan.Gary Neville gets emotional on BBC Dragons Den debut More

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      I’m a former Premier League ace and 113-cap international… now I’m a businessman and star of Dragons’ Den

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      FORMER Premier League ace Razvan Rat is now a television star after hanging up his boots.The ex-West Ham defender played 20 times for the club in the 2013/14 season.
      Razvan Rat is now on Romania’s version of Dragons’ DenCredit: Instagram @razvanrat.official

      The defender used to play for West HamCredit: Instagram @razvanrat.official

      Rat made his money through propertyCredit: Pro TV
      During his lengthy career, Rat won seven league titles and the Europa League in 2009 with Shakhtar Donestk.
      Since retiring six years ago, he has become a regular on TV screens in his homeland.
      He now tackles business entrepreneurs on their ideas instead of wingers.
      Rat made several smart moves with the money he pocketed as a footballer – renovating properties, building hotels and creating an elite training base for teams to use.
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      It led to him earning a spot on the Romanian version of Dragons’ Den.
      The show Imperiul Leilor launched in 2020 and the ex-player joined from the fourth series that begun last year.
      He decided not to invest in a football business that aimed to rent pitches and create more 5-a-side leagues.
      Rat has also worked as a pundit.
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      He has national hero status in Romania after winning 113 caps.
      Back in his days at West Ham, he was on a reported £35,000-a-week.
      Rat is not the only former Hammer to make his way in business after retiring.
      Former striker Marlon Harewood used to run a car customisation business with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane as clients.
      Razvan Rat played 20 times for West HamCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      England football legend tipped to join Dragon’s Den as judge gushes ‘he’s prepared to invest’

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      EX-footballer Gary Neville is tipped to become a full-time TV Dragon.He impressed as a guest investor on the new series of BBC One’s Dragons’ Den, to be shown next year.
      Gary Neville is tipped to become a full-time TV DragonCredit: PA
      The Sky Sports pundit and former Man Utd defender has millions invested in property and Beeb bosses want him to join the entrepreneur series on a more permanent basis.
      Show regular Deborah Meaden said: “You’d think he had been a Dragon his entire life. He instinctively asked the right questions.
      “He’s got a really good business brain on him. He was fantastic, I’m not kidding you, and he’s prepared to invest.”
      Meanwhile, Deborah will appear on Taskmaster’s New Year Treat on Tuesday but isn’t worried the madcap Channel 4 show may affect her reputation.
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      She said: “I didn’t get these laughter lines through sitting in a chair and being grumpy.”
      Em’s a UK TV buff
      NAKED ATTRACTION has made its way to Hollywood – well, to actress Emma Stone’s living room in the States at least.
      The La La Land film star, who joins Graham Norton on the telly sofa for his New Year’s Eve chat show special on BBC One, admits she enjoys tuning in to British programmes when relaxing between jobs.
      Emma Stone will join Graham Norton on the telly sofa for the New Year’s Eve special of his chat showCredit: PA
      Graham will also be joined by Mark Ruffalo, Claudia Winkleman, Rob Brydon and the Ezra CollectiveCredit: PA
      But it is far from high-brow viewing for Emma, who stars with Mark Ruffalo in new film Poor Things. In fact, she prefers a light-hearted reality and dating fix.
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      American Emma says: “My foray into it began with The Only Way Is Essex, and then I learned about Naked Attraction and Gogglebox. I became completely crazy about it and, in America, the two shows are a double feature. They are back-to-back.
      “So it’s cosy family viewing followed by nakedness. I love that.”
      As well as his movie A-lister guests, Graham will be joined by Claudia Winkleman and actor Rob Brydon, plus jazz band Ezra Collective.
      Gavin & Stacey’s Rob will reveal that Emma is not the only actress from across the Pond who is a big fan of British telly.
      He adds of being cast as Sugar Daddy Ken in Barbie: “It was bizarre, but I ended up in it apparently because MARGOT ROBBIE is a fan of Gavin & Stacey. I think that’s how it came about.”

      RUPAUL’S Drag Race UK Versus The World is to return on BBC Three for a second series early in 2024.
      The queens from this year’s British series are competing with Drag Racers from across the globe to be crowned the ultimate winner, and for the first time will receive a cash prize.

      David: My childish question
      JUST because Sir David Attenborough has been studying natural history for more than eight decades doesn’t mean he’s stopped asking schoolboy questions.
      On BBC One’s Attenborough And The Giant Sea Monster, to be shown on Monday night, the broadcaster learns all about the long-extinct ocean predator pliosaur, after a fossil is found in Dorset.
      Sir David Attenborough hasn’t stopped asking schoolboy questionsCredit: PA
      But when he sat down with an expert, Sir David asked how the sea creature would fare in a fight with T-rex.
      He said: “I asked the expert perhaps a rather childish question, because pliosaur was very big – it’s bigger than Tyrannosaurus Rex by a long way.
      “My schoolboy question was, ‘Supposing a Tyrannosaurus rex met this pliosaur, who would win?’.”

      EASTENDERS have confirmed tough-guy actor Alan Ford will head to Walford and take on the role of Billy Mitchell’s dad Stevie.
      As I exclusively revealed earlier this year, the Snatch star will turn up unannounced at the funeral of Aunt Sal.
      His scenes for the BBC One soap air in the New Year.

      ANT and Dec have become more like exam invigilators for the new series of their quiz show Limitless Win.
      The duo, who return to ITV1 on Saturday with a third outing, admit they have had to check contestants entering the studio to make sure they are not sneaking answers in.
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      Ant said: “Contestants are coming with proper research, spreadsheets and things written down on bits of paper. We’ve had to check their arms.”
      Dec added: “People have really been doing their research and coming prepared.” More

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      Gary Neville told he ‘owned the chair’ in ‘utterly brilliant’ BBC debut as he starts exciting career move

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      GARY NEVILLE “owned the chair” when he made his Dragons’ Den debut, businesswoman Deborah Meaden has revealed.The programme will return to the BBC next year as they use guest celebrities to join the usual panel of Peter Jones, Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.
      Gary Neville will be a guest investor on the 21st series of Dragons’ DenCredit: PA
      Manchester United legend Neville, 48, has been named as one of two new stars of the show.
      Emma Grede, who is the CEO and co-founder of fashion company Good American, will also make her Dragons’ Den debut on the 21st series.
      And Meaden was quick to praise Neville for his opening appearance in the Den.
      She tweeted: “A first next year in @BBCDragonsden when we have some guest Dragons…
      READ MORE ON GARY NEVILLE
      “First up @GNev2 who was utterly brilliant and owned that chair!!”
      Speaking about joining the hit show, Neville said: “It’s a pleasure to join the Dragons as a guest for the new series and see some of the amazing pitches from budding entrepreneurs from different walks of life.
      “It was a privilege to share my knowledge and guidance with the brave entrepreneurs who entered the Den, but you’ll have to wait and see whether I committed to any investments!”
      Off the field, ex-England right-back Neville has become a successful businessman, with a chain of hotels and townhouses.
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      He owns Hotel Football overlooking Old Trafford, an apartment block in Manchester with Ryan Giggs, and League Two side Salford City.
      His £750-a-night Stock Exchange Hotel – also shared with Giggs – boasts of a luxury penthouse and roof terrace.
      Dragons’ Den gives business hopefuls the chance to pitch their products to the multi-millionaire panel, who have the choice to invest.
      The show’s most successful contestants have gone on to achieve net worths of up to £70MILLION. More

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      Inside Gary Neville’s booming business empire including plush hotels and football team as star is set for Dragons’ Den

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      GARY NEVILLE has swapped a glistening career in football with a booming business empire. Earlier today the Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit announced his latest gig after landing a role on hit BBC show Dragons’ Den.
      Gary Neville heads a booming business empireCredit: PA
      Among his investments are Hotel Football located next to Old TraffordCredit: PA
      He owns a string of luxury property developmentsCredit: Stock Exchange Hotel
      And his business acumen has landed him a role on Dragons’ Den
      But becoming a Dragon is simply the culmination of more than a decade of savvy decisions that have seen his business portfolio bring in tens of millions of pounds every year.
      Neville owns a chain of hotels and townhouses after first getting into property development in his early 20s.
      Among his prize assets are a string of hotels and development projects.
      His investments include Hotel Football, a luxury hotel overlooking Old Trafford, and the stunning Stock Exchange Hotel near Piccadilly Gardens.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      He is also part of the £120million St Michael’s Project, which aims to build apartments, hotels, offices and a high-end restaurant in the city centre.
      However, the 48-year-old’s business stakes do not end there.
      League Two side Salford City are perhaps his most famous investment alongside fellow members of the Class of 92′.
      He founded “Relentless” – an investment company who specialise in ventures around the Manchester area – in 2015, while also running property and construction consultancy firm “Zerum”.
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      His use of the name “Relentless” has a particular affinity with Neville.
      Writing on his website, he said: “‘Relentless’ is my favourite word and sums up my approach to life, business, everything really.”
      He adds these vision and values “are embedded within the fabric of everything that we do”.
      Neville even has his fingers in show production, co-founding Buzz 16 in 2017.
      The firm’s work can be credited on programmes such as The Overlap, Soccerbox and Class of 92 Full Time.
      In February, he sold his controlling stake in the company for a reported fee of £200m.
      Before leaving the venture in 2019 he was also a senior investor in E3 Creative, a digital creative agency who specialise in online marketing and corporate strategy.
      GG Hospitality, a hospitality management company, are another of Neville’s ventures, along with a higher education institution named University Academy 92.
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      The academy, which opened in September 2019, has 400 students registered to it as of August last year.
      It offers “broader courses than traditional degrees”.
      He also owns luxury hotel ‘The Stock Exchange’Credit: Stock Exchange Hotel
      While he also co-owns League Two side Salford CityCredit: Getty More

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      Gary Neville lined up for major career move as ex-Man Utd star set to appear on huge BBC show

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville has been lined up for a role on BBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den. Neville, 48, has become one of Sky Sports’ top football pundits since he retired in 2011 as an eight-time Premier League winner.
      Gary Neville has been lined up for a role on BBC’s hit show Dragons’ DenCredit: BBC
      And despite not making it in management, the former England international has moved into commentary.
      Off the field, Neville has also become a successful businessman, with a chain of hotels and townhouses.
      He owns the Hotel Football overlooking Old Trafford, an apartment block in Manchester with Ryan Giggs and League Two side Salford City.
      His £750-a-night Stock Exchange Hotel – also shared with Giggs – boasts of a luxury penthouse, roof terrace and kitchen run by Tom Kerridge.

      So it leaves him well positioned to judge wannabe entrepreneurs on BBC’s popular business programme.
      Neville said: “I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den.
      “I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you’ve had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.
      “Business is all about managing people and managing yourself and I’m looking forward to sharing my experience to help the entrepreneurs we’ll meet in the Den reach their potential.”
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      Dragons’ Den gives business hopefuls the chance to pitch their product to the multi-millionaire panel, who have the choice to invest.
      The show’s most successful contestants have gone on to achieve net worths of £30-£70MILLION.

      Neville will join London-born and US-based fashion mogul Emma Grede as guests on the panel.
      They will sit alongside Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett for series 21.
      The show returns on BBC One and iPlayer in 2024 with filming currently taking place in Manchester, where Neville made his name.
      Gary Neville moved into punditry after retiring from footballCredit: Getty More

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      I’m an ex-Premier League star who went on Dragons’ Den for a laugh… then I got £150,000 from Duncan Bannatyne

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      AN ex-Premier League star went on Dragons’ Den for a laugh was stunned to receive £150,000 from Duncan Bannatyne.Richard Lee, 40, played in goal for a number of clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Watford and Fulham over a 14 year career.
      Richard Lee is an ex-Premier League star
      Lee battling for the ball against Micah Richards in 2006Credit: PA:Press Association
      Despite playing against Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final, it was a surprise appearance on the hit TV show that really saw him start to rake in the big bucks.
      Back in 2006, Lee – who was turning out for Brentford at the time – appeared on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.
      He offered the five investors a stake in his business, Dr Cap, a company specialising in selling sports headwear, in exchange for some investment and expertise.
      Lee told EFL news: “My business partner applied [for Dragons’ Den] for a bit of fun without telling me a few years ago.
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      “We were asked to go to Manchester to meet their production team and explain our concept. A month later we were told we’d made the show and were invited to London.
      “I remember it well. At the time I was playing for Blackburn Rovers and we had a big game the night before we were due in London. I travelled down after the match and got there at about 4am. I had to be up three hours later for filming of the show, I was shattered.
      “It was great, though, and because it wasn’t my main source of income there was no pressure.”
      And he recalls the moment one of the investors made the leap to splash the cash.
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      Lee continued: “We prepared as well as we could and although we got caught out on one or two small bits, we gave a good presentation and one of the Dragons, Duncan Bannatyne, invested.
      “It was crazy. As soon as it happened we all shook hands and went downstairs for the interview afterwards. When the show eventually came out it coincided with a big match for me, so it was a really good time in my life.
      “In the end, the investment didn’t actually go through, but it certainly gave us a bit of a boost at the time. It taught me a lot of lessons.”
      He was capped by England at U18 and U20 level but never made a senior appearance for the Three Lions.
      In more recent years, Lee has also been making a name for himself as the go-to agent for goalkeepers.
      The former Prem ace spotted the gap in the football-agent market from his experience as a player.
      Few clubs have specialist goalkeeper recruitment teams, meaning Lee can offer advice as well as players to solve issues between the sticks. 
      And he cited his business experience on Dragons’ Den as a huge help into his rewarding new career move.
      Lee said: “I just wanted it to be done a bit more professionally when it came to goalkeepers, because it’s not like other departments.
      “I’ve got Google alerts set up on over 300 goalkeepers in the UK and around the world.
      “I’m in contact with every single goalkeeper coach to understand their needs and keep spreadsheets so that I know where the gaps are — and where they may appear.”
      Speaking to The Athletic in 2022 he said: “Probably the last four years, I made the decision to focus solely on one thing and blend various skills from what I’ve done before.
      “Becoming a master practitioner in neurolinguistic programming, writing a book on goalkeeping, playing a few hundred times in the Premier League and Championship, having a business background — including appearing on Dragons’ Den — it all feeds into being a goalkeeping agent and mentor.
      “As an agent, you get a real buzz when things like this come together.”
      Given the niche he’s found for himself, it’s no exaggeration when Lee says: “I do believe I’m the best in the world at what I do now.”
      Former Watford and England goalkeeper turned YouTuber Ben Foster has backed up his claims and described Lee as a “super goalkeeper agent”.
      Lee divides his time between London and Dubai, and being abroad can sometimes enable him to watch more live games than when he is in England.
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      “I’ve got six iPads so I can watch all the 3pm kick-offs at once — and I’m only watching the goalies. I’m really a geek when it comes to this stuff.
      “Your regular agent, who also has to cover outfield players, can’t compete, because I know just to be on top of everything to do with goalkeepers takes me 18 hours a day.”
      Lee appeared on Dragons’ Den with his business partner and investor Duncan Bannatyne liked his product More