Quotes from Deborah Meaden

I care a lot about animal welfare and children. Although I don't have children myself.

I don't look for praise.

If people have got an amazing opportunity such as on 'Dragons' Den' and they mess it up by being lazy with their presentation it does make me a bit cross.

I am not just sitting in my office making deals all the time.

I am terrible. When I buy stuff, I want it straight away. If it says two to three weeks delivery - no way. I will find somewhere that will deliver it that afternoon.

Dragons' Den' is about as close to real business as you can get on television.

I don't like anything with too much dependency. Children are very dependent, which is probably why we never had them.

I have no problem paying taxes. It doesn't bother me, because I want to live in a society that's happy.

If someone needs help, I don't do tea and sympathy, but I'm honest and practical - that's how I was brought up.

My friends would say I'm not the person to go to for tea, a cuddle and sympathy, because I can't deliver. But if you want something sorted out and need a champion who will stand by your side, that is me.

When I concentrate, my face is deadpan and I can see there is a coldness there - when I'm making business decisions I know I can be quite dispassionate.

I hate getting things wrong and I hate failing.

I am a very loyal person and believe that people should be treated fairly in life.

Provided someone can persuade me, I will invest in anything.

Playing the piano was what I loved doing for myself, but as soon as it became a 'thing' that I was being pushed to pursue by my teachers, I rebelled.

When I first started on 'Dragons' Den,' I was under pressure to buy flashy cars and boats but I resisted.

I use my clothes to make my day better - for example, if it's a dull day, I'll wear something bright to cheer myself up.

The one thing I say, I will invest in anything - I don't care what it is - as long as it doesn't cut across my ethical code, because at the end of the day I want to be able to live with myself. I want to feel proud of what I do.

I started off in the leisure industry and now I find myself as the DIY queen - I'm not quite sure how that happened!

I need quite a lot going on, so a perfect holiday for me is one in a cooler climate with wonderful scenery, animals or great architecture.

I'm always asked about how women get on in the boardroom and my answer is always, 'Never acknowledge that you are a woman. Your gender is not the point.'

I didn't want to get married.

I love the full-on Hollywood glamour of the 1930s and '40s.

You need to tell people where they stand. If someone's done a good job, you should tell them they've done damn well. But if they haven't, you should take the same attitude.