Who is Hen Weekend Chicken Boarding owner Katriona Shovlin and when was she on Dragons’ Den?

KATRIONA SHOVLIN, the mastermind behind the UK’s first-ever five-star hen hotel, is taking her daring idea to Dragons’ Den.

She’ll be pitching her luxury “hennels” on the popular BBC reality show. Here’s what we know about her.

Who is Dragons’ Den contestant and chicken boarding owner Katriona Shovlin?

Katriona Shovlin has been running her Hen Weekend Chicken Boarding business from her home in Upchurch, Kent, since late 2023, and it has been going from strength to strength.

The Sun previously shared how her all-inclusive chicken retreat quickly became fully booked after its autumn launch. 

It sees birds dance to Beyonce at the cocktail bar, peck at a superfood buffet, jump in a tyre, and play on a swing.

The hen hotelier has had extensive experience in dealing with wildlife, having studied animal science at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent.

Now, 32-year-old mum-of-one Katriona is looking to take things to the next level. 

When is Katriona Shovlin on Dragons’ Den?

You can catch the episode on BBC One on Thursday, January 9, 2025, but if you miss it you can catch up on the iPlayer.

She’s hoping to secure investment on Dragons’ Den to expand her unique and quirky business.

She said: “Walking into the Dragons’ Den was one of the most emotional and exciting moments of my life.

“It was not just about pitching a business, it was about being a voice for hens, showing the world their worth, and sharing why they deserve more from us as a nation of animal lovers.

“I hope that my journey inspires others to see hens as more than just chickens, but as the beautiful, individual souls they truly are.”

Shovlin revealed that it was the special guest dragon, fitness guru Joe Wicks, who helped her feel more at ease during her pitch.

She said: "To approach all these millionaires was really daunting, but Joe's just like me.”

What started as a simple hen house in her backyard to care for abandoned birds quickly grew into something much bigger. 

Before long, Katriona found herself looking after family pets while their owners were away.

She now accommodates female chickens exclusively at a price of £3 per bird each day.

She said: "We've had up to 20 chickens here at times from families who are going on holiday or in the process of moving home.

My own journey has shown me that with the right mindset and a lot of hard work, anything is possible.

Joe Wicks

"One family read about us on social media and drove all the way from Berkshire for me to look after their chickens."

The TV appearance is the biggest media spotlight yet for the hen hotel owner, who’s already been featured in national newspapers and on BBC Radio 1 and 2 when she first launched her business. 

Katriona admitted she was surprised when the TV producers reached out to her as it was an opportunity she didn’t see coming.

She said: "I originally said no because I just thought this is a small little business.

"However, I reflected on it and thought that there couldn't be a better platform that I could have to propel the business into the spotlight and raise awareness at the same time."

Who are the new Dragons’ Den judges?

The health and fitness guru Joe Wicks will be joining the Dragons as a guest investor.

Fitness coach and author Joe Wicks will be joining Peter Jones, Sara Davies, Steven Bartlett, Deborah Meaden, and Touker Suleyman as a guest in the first episode of the new series. 

Wicks became a household name during the coronavirus lockdown, thanks to his daily PE with Joe live streams, which helped families stay active at home. 

In March 2020, the Body Coach even set a world record for the most people tuning in to a live-streamed workout.

The fitness expert said he "can't wait" to step into the Den as a Guest Dragon and meet all the "passionate entrepreneurs". 

He added: “My own journey has shown me that with the right mindset and a lot of hard work, anything is possible.”

Joe will be joined by British fashion and beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall in the new series.

Trinny became a firm favourite from her days as co-host of the BBC show What Not to Wear, where she and Susannah Constantine dished out fashion advice and makeovers.

Since then, Trinny has carved out a major name for herself in the beauty world with her successful makeup and skincare brand, Trinny London, which focuses on personalised beauty products. 

Woodall says: "I'm delighted to join the next series of Dragons' Den as a Guest Dragon and look forward to discovering the fantastic ideas and passion that the entrepreneurs will bring to the table.”

Also returning is Emma Grede.

Catch Dragons' Den at 8PM on Thursday, January 9, 2025 on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer.