'Dragon's Den' star Duncan Bannatyne has slammed his former co-star Hilary Devey for always being late.
The Scottish businessman has hit out at the 56-year-old entrepreneur claiming she would have been sacked if she hadn't of left on her own accord because she contributed to the show's failure by turning up to filming almost six hours late.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "I don't miss Hilary. She was never on set, she was always late.
"Hilary can turn up six hours late and walk in like nothing has happened. And then say, 'I wasn't late'.
"I don't think she would have had another year on 'Dragon's Den'. I think she would have been let go if she hadn't left."
Duncan claims Hilary - who left 'Dragon's Den' in 2011 - turned the show into a reality TV programme and was always causing problems on set because she ran her own rules.
He added: "I watched the first three weeks. I thought it was a reality TV show which wasn't true to life.
"I think it was typical that Hilary was never there. That is the problem we had."
However, the investor had nothing but kind words for his new dragon Kelly Hoppen and insists she has had a positive effect on his waist line by encouraging him to tuck into healthier meals during filming.
He said: "Kelly has got an amazing insight into design and nutrition. She is great and she has started getting lunch delivered from the hotel to the set and it was very healthy. Now I have started doing the same."
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