How Dragon Duncan spat f ire at Anne in row over sunbeds

0 Comments | Daily Mail (London, England), The, Oct 10, 2009

Byline: Jim McBeth

HE is the millionaire Scots businessman who became a television star.

With her sly wink and cruel attitude she is an icon of the small screen.

So Duncan Bannatyne and Anne Robinson should get on like a Dragon's Den on fire.

But they are at loggerheads for the second time in weeks, with the Scot describing the host of The Weakest Link and Watchdog as a 'fake'.

The Dragon's Den star, who operates a chain of health clubs, clashed with Robinson last month on the BBC consumer protection programme over the cancer danger posed by sun beds.

She grilled the businessman after a 15-year-old girl 'undercover' reporter was able to use the tanning salons at two of his gyms.

The businessman, who has now raised the age limit of sunbed users to 18, claimed Robinson was overstating the risk of cancer, in spite of the World Health Organisation claiming sun beds are as dangerous as cigarettes.

Robinson said later that Bannatyne was 'very, very angry' and had 'stormed' out of the studio. But the Scot, who made his millions from care homes, claimed he had been in a hurry to get to another appointment.

He added: 'I have a live audience and the crew as my witness. Perhaps Anne has some memory loss - or dreamt it!' Now Bannatyne has decided to have another go at Robinson on his Twitter page.

He claimed he had 'had enough' of Anne on Watchdog and demanded the reinstatement of former presenter and fellow Scot Nicky Campbell. Bannatyne, 60, posted a series of jibes at Robinson yesterday. He tweeted: 'Just got back in and put on Watchdog but can't help feeling Anne Robinson is such a fake, so switched off.

'Can't abide watching winking Anne Robinson on Watchdog either.

'Used to be a good programme, too. Alas.' And he went on: 'Anne Robinson freaks me out! I agree that she seems very fake indeed!

'Anne Robinson is more fake than a nun at a penguin shoot.' He added: 'Bring back Nicky Campbell to Watchdog!!!!

'The show seems too "soft" now - at least he tore into people.' Clydebank-born Bannatyne left school at the age of 15 and joined the Navy, before starting his first business as an ice-cream man. He then built up a string of successful care homes, before selling them to a U.S. company and starting the health club chain.

The entrepreneur, who once turned down a role as a villain in the detective series Taggart, is one of a growing number of celebrities who 'tweet'.

He is a regular Twitter user, along with pop brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher and Scots tennis ace Andy Murray.

Bannatyne has previously posted a picture of singer Chesney Hawkes after the 1991 one-hitwonder singer cut his head while 'showing off' in the swimming pool of the businessman's villa in the South of France.

CAPTION(S):

At odds: Bannatyne and Robinson