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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Deborah Meaden seems very unpleasant

94 replies

LauraGrooves · 17/08/2015 22:14

Just sat there on her high chair, acting like queen bee and stroking her nails.

Seams like a horid woman. Someone here must of worked with her. Is she?

OP posts:

Littlefluffyclouds81 · 18/08/2015 07:58

She now lives in my childhood home which she bought off my dad 11 years ago. My dad built a new house 1 field away so they are next door neighbours.

She's nice, she has been friendly on the couple of times I've met her. Everyone in the local community seems to like her. She doesn't have any dc and has a bit of a role reversal relationship, with her dh doing all the cooking and staying at home while she's off working.

londonrach · 18/08/2015 08:09

Theres still a points of view? (Misses point of thread completely)

EponasWildDaughter · 18/08/2015 08:10

I agree with the 'business hat' comment. i have a relative like her. Same sort of age. Similar looking actually. Has made a mint from her own sheer hard graft.

She is, apparently, super scary at work. Doesn't suffer fools at all. Has people in tears. Strikes fear into the hearts of all the men and women in her team. Has risen to the top running a very well known retail chain.

I know her as the kindest, gentlest, most generous thoughtful and lovely auntie you could wish for :)

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 18/08/2015 08:14

Epona She's your auntie?? I'm so jealous! I think she's awesome!

EponasWildDaughter · 18/08/2015 08:26

No i have a relative like her Livia.

But i'm with you. I think D Meaden comes across well. She has a laugh and a joke sometimes and you can see a twinkle in her eye. I bet she's nice off screen.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 18/08/2015 08:33

Oops - misread your post!

She's one of those people I would love to have dinner with!

Topseyt · 18/08/2015 08:44

Another Deborah Meaden fan here.

I admire her success. She clearly has a good business brain. So what if she strokes her nails!?

FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP · 18/08/2015 08:50

She was very likeable and genuine-seeming on Strictly. Just the right balance of "I'm going to work hard, have fun and keep it in proportion"

ConceptOfBiscuits · 18/08/2015 08:52

I thought she (after studying business and other jobs), went to work for her families arcade started out at shop floor working up, and after that she went to join the holiday side of family run business, again working her way up, and then bought it out so was gifted nothing. She sold after increasing the business but kept a stake.

But if she had been gifted it so fucking what, its quite obvious she has worked and is successful.

I also think she has said before the nail thing was something she was not really aware of before it being pointed out and she does it when concentrating.

MulberryHandbag · 18/08/2015 08:54

I'm pleased to hear that she's nice in real life. As I said I liked her before but there have been one or two occasions on the latest series where I've thought 'wtf?' At some of the things she'd said... I always feel disappointed when I like a celeb and they say or do something something changes my mind! So I'm glad to hear she's actually honourable and rather lovely

Business-wise I have nothing but respect for her.

BubGal13 · 18/08/2015 08:55

She actually does a lot for charity re. wildlife which I love about her. On Strictly you saw when out of her comfort zone she is really sweet and a bit vulnerable-

from her website OP- Deborah actively supports a number of environmental charities and initiatives including the annual Observer Ethical Awards, which she has judged since 2008. In 2009 Deborah accepted the role of Ambassador for the WWF, the world's leading environmental organisation and she also acts as a Patron for Tusk Trust. In addition Deborah is an Ambassador for Lendwithcare and the Roundhouse and a Fellow with the RSA.

MulberryHandbag · 18/08/2015 08:57

Being gifted a business is lucky, but if you don't know wtf you're doing it will never be successful in the long term.

My friend was basically given her father's successful business but it is the sheer graft of her and her she's that has expanded it, modernised it and made it the brand it is today.

Original poster

LauraGrooves · 18/08/2015 08:57

Well I'm glad it is all an act. Still think she should of ignored who ever adviced her to be more of a bitch this year and keep stroking her nails. But I guess the show would of died years ago if they hadn't of started acting up.

The fake lift is pretty shit, but somehow they've made it the star of the show

OP posts:

Icimoi · 18/08/2015 08:58

OP, your picture of her starting off by being given a share in her parents' campsite doesn't seem to accord with the information on Wikipedia -

"Meaden and a partner bought one of the first Stefanel textile franchises in the UK, and which was based in the West Country; she sold out two years later to her partner for £10,000. She then had several successful leisure and retail businesses including a spell operating a Prize Bingo at Butlins in Minehead.

In 1988, Meaden joined her family's business to run its amusement arcade operations and in 1992, joined Weststar Holidays, a family holiday park operator based in Exeter, Devon but with its major sites based in South West England. In 1999, she led a management buyout and acquired the majority shareholding. By the time she sold the company 6 years later, the Weststar was providing holidays for more than 150,000 people each year with an EBITDA in excess of £11m. In 2005 she made a partial exit when Weststar was sold in a deal worth £33 million to Phoenix Equity Partners, and in August 2007 her remaining stake of 23% in Weststar Holidays was liquidated when the firm was sold to Alchemy Partners for £83m, valuing her stake at about £19m."

Kryten2X4B523P · 18/08/2015 09:05

I think they're all putting on a bit of an act at least, but I was half listening to the program when DH was watching it on iplayer the other night and one of the new men seemed much nastier than DM.

I think DD has lost it's way a bit though, I reckon at least half the people who go on are primarily looking for a bit of free advertising.

EponasWildDaughter · 18/08/2015 09:27

I haven't watched DD for years. I'm not surprised the panel are being told to up the unpleasantness. Everything on TV these days is being pushed to be extreme, as if viewers aren't happy unless there's regularly actual blood and tears on the screen.

Hoppinggreen · 18/08/2015 09:33

She invested in a business I had a minor involvement in, I met her a couple of times and she was very down to earth and nice.
She is still involved in the business ( I'm not any more but I know the owner) and apparently she is very supportive and helpful even a few years after the initial investment.

Dawndonnaagain · 18/08/2015 12:11

Another one whose ds has worked with her. Bright, funny, clever and very nice is the verdict.

SheHasAWildHeart · 18/08/2015 12:17

I think the nail thing is just bad editing where they show the same few clips over and over again, happens quite often on DD.

I think she's amazing and a great role model.

There is an issue with DD though. A lot of the people who come on now don't apply, instead they're approached by the production company direct and asked if they would like to pitch on the show. The production company need to do a better job of ensuring that they're ready and know what to expect. But I do feel out of all the dragons Deborah is the one I would like to work with the most. When they do follow-up shows she really seems to get hands on, put the time in and anyone who works with her learns a lot.

Birdsgottafly · 18/08/2015 12:25

My relative was on DD, recently (they fought over his business) he was impressed with DM, they do adopt persona's, the viewing figures have dropped, so the show is trying new concepts.

I have another very successful business owner relative, who has charity dealings with the Dragons and they all come across well, outside of their roles.

SheHasAWildHeart · 18/08/2015 13:27

Why do people go on the show without understanding what revenue, turnover, gross profit and bet profit mean? Then they look surprised when asked. Business basics that even Google could help them with. I've worked in the enterprise sector for years and attended pitching panels similar to DD - I know many angel investors who wouldn't have patience for some of this nonsense.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 18/08/2015 13:32

But OP, how do you feel about her stroking her nails?

Tenieht · 18/08/2015 13:45

She comes across as a bitch on Dragons Den but I think it's just an act. The whole show is very hammy don't you think, that's why it's entertaining

MitzyLeFrouf · 18/08/2015 14:18

Haven't seen the programme in ages but Deborah Meaden always seemed fine to me.

That ballsack Bannatyne on the other hand...........

SheHasAWildHeart · 18/08/2015 14:35

yeah I think they all have a part to play - one who always seemed annoyed (Piers and now MoonPig man), eccentric foreigner (Theo, Tukar) and Peter has taken over Duncan's role as angry old man.

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