Overview
- The 2026 series premiered on January 29 on BBC One and iPlayer with REFY co‑founder Jenna Meek joining Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Steven Bartlett.
- This season features a rotating roster of guests rather than a permanent replacement, with names reported to include Tinie Tempah, Susie Ma and Gary Neville.
- Opening‑night pitches showcased consumer‑focused startups including Hatnspicy, Mosaic Journal, The Original Teff‑ly and Strike Back Self Defence.
- Viewers immediately noted Sara Davies’s absence, with social posts asking why she was not in the Den after her previously announced pause from the show.
- Meek highlighted the Den’s unscripted intensity and said she was drawn to founders reshaping their sectors, as coverage profiled REFY’s rapid growth and major retail presence.