Duncan Bannatyne

Biography

Raised in Clydebank, Duncan Bannatyne started his career in the Royal Navy, but was dishonourably discharged after throwing an officer off a boat landing jetty in Scotland. He began his business career by purchasing an ice cream van in Stockton-on-Tees for £450. After expanding and then selling the business, he started a nursing home business, and has since moved into health clubs, bars, casinos, and property.

Bannatyne was appointed an OBE in 2004 for his charity work. He declined an opportunity to compete on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, saying that he was "too old to sleep on a canvas bed." He had to pull out of Only Fools On Horses after sustaining an injury.

Trivia

In 2010, it was announced that he would front a show, Homeless Hotel, in which ten homeless people would compete for a job. However, the announcement was actually a spoof put out by the charity Shelter, with Bannatyne's full support.