Dragon's Den viewers claim entrepreneurs have 'gone soft and woke' in new series, as Sara Davies breaks down in tears and Deborah Meaden says hopefully: 'It's OK to be emotional'

Over 21 series, the entrepreneurs of Dragon's Den have carefully honed their reputation as tough-as-nails tycoons who can spot – and ruthlessly take down – a dubious business idea at a moment's notice.

Many of those who have dared to enter their lair in search of investments have famously collapsed from examining the millionaire Dragons' tricky questions about profits, losses and predictions.

However, the latest series of the hugely popular BBC One show has, say viewers, seen a lighter side to the current cohort, including Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.

Last night's episode featured hopeful Derry Green, who set up a glamping business during lockdown Skelmersdale was overwhelmed by the universally positive response from the Dragons – and all five were impressed by his profitable holiday business.

The Wigan businessman, who is looking to boost his glamping success at Secret Garden, was told 'it was okay to be emotional' by Deborah Meaden after being reduced to tears of joy in the den.

As Green left, after asking Deborah Meaden to grow his business, he wiped away tears, while Dragon Sara Davies also grabbed a tissue and said through tears: “I'm just so happy for him.”

Touker Suleyman promptly offered his fellow magnate a warm hug.

Deborah Meaden, whose background is in the holiday industry, was all warm smiles and 100 percent of the money after hearing the businessman's story

The hopeful had five to choose from… but chose Deborah Meaden, with the pair sharing a warm hug

Nothing biting here: both Peter Jones (left) and Touker Suleyman were equally impressed by the glamping start-up, which also offered all the money

However, some viewers hoping for Dragons' signature short shrift weren't so sure about the feel-good positivity.

One wrote: 'What the hell happened to this show, I thought evil dragons had gone soft!'

Another agreed, saying: 'The Dragons are turning into pussies. Soft offers and hugs ffs!'

Others suggested the show had adopted a more 'woke' format.

Next week for example football star Gary Neville will join the den as a guest host.

Despite the former Manchester United legend having had mixed success as a businessman, the announcement that he would feature in series 21 has caused a stir.

Sara Davies couldn't hold back tears as she told her fellow tycoons: 'I'm just so happy for him'

Although the Dragons have developed a reputation for being overtly hard-nosed, a softer side to the quintet has emerged in the latest series, viewers say

Touker Suleyman consoled the crying Dragon as the business deal reached its feel-good conclusion

And he has already impressed a fellow Dragon in Bartlett, with the entrepreneur admitting he was stunned by the size of the business portfolio the former England international had developed when he appeared on his Diary Of A CEO podcast last year.

Neville had explained the motivation behind his investments, emphasizing that he wanted to build teams and raise standards in Greater Manchester.

“They are all in Greater Manchester, in Salford, Trafford and Manchester city centre, and I feel very focused on my investments in them,” Neville said.

'Some people would say this is naive and that you should expand your investments outside Greater Manchester. No, I'm passionate about where I come from, where I live and I want to invest back in that part of the country.

'The two hotels, the football club, the major developments we are working on, the university, the project management consultancy. They are all in Greater Manchester.”