Deborah Meaden

“I think I'm absolutely perfect. Because if I'm not good at something I completely banish it from my mind. Completely. Like it never happened.”

“If people have got an amazing opportunity such as on 'Dragons' Den' and they mess it up by being lazy with their presentation it does make me a bit cross.”

“Much as I'm loving the 'Strictly' experience, I'm sure I'll always be better known for my business career and my appearances on 'Dragons' Den' than I will for my cha-cha-cha or Viennese walt...”

“When I concentrate, my face is deadpan and I can see there is a coldness there - when I'm making business decisions I know I can be quite dispassionate.”

“I am not intimidating, I am forthright!”

“I'm impervious to charm. I can see through it.”

“I'm not a fearful person, I have no phobias of rats, snakes, spiders, nothing. I'm lucky in that sense.”

“As an entrepreneur and employer, in the fairly recent past I have been astonished at how difficult it has been to get young people to take the idea of getting a job seriously.”

“Nearly everybody, when they first meet me, seems to have this sense of trepidation.”

“I am proud of the fact I would never tamper with my looks. I love the fact I have earned every line and wrinkle.”