Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne tweets about 'considering suicide' after marriage woes
By Andrea Magrath
Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne shocked his 352,000 Twitter followers last week when he wrote that he was considering suicide.
The 62-year-old businessman sparked concern when he wrote: 'My day could not have been worse. Suicide is a considered option.'
Bannatyne also tweeted: 'Is death the end? Or is there more?'
The worrying remarks, posted on Friday and later removed, follow problems in his marriage to second wife Joanne, 45, according to reports.
Worrying: Duncan Bannatyne has tweeted that he was 'considering suicide' following problems in his marriage to wife Joanne
Worrying: Duncan Bannatyne has tweeted that he was 'considering suicide' following problems in his marriage to wife Joanne
The couple, who married in November 2006, have been attempting to work through their issues, the Sun claims.
'They have had problems but they are trying to work it through. They still consider themselves a married couple and are trying to sort things out,' a friend told the paper.
'There is no third party. This is not about another woman. The problems are just those that can arise between any married couple.'
Duncan and Joanne met when she was Director of Nursing at his Quality Care Homes in the mid-Nineties; he proposed in Barbados in 2006.
Trouble: The couple, pictured at their 2006 wedding, are working through some issues, according to friends
Trouble: The couple, pictured at their 2006 wedding, are working through some issues, according to friends
The TV star, who has a fortune worth £430 million from his nursing home and health club empire, is being supported by daughter Hollie from his first marriage.
He told fans on Twitter that the pair had shared an alcohol-fuelled dinner over the weekend.
'Just spent the evening with @HollieNicole85 & I tell you she can drink more than @Fittoswan but had lovely evening,' he wrote. 'Children are the best thing in the world.'
He added: 'Hungover after an evening out with my lovely & very supportive daughter.'
TV star: Bannatyne is currently filming the new series of Dragons' Den
TV star: Bannatyne is currently filming the new series of Dragons' Den
The father-daughter time appeared to have lifted the Dragon's spirits, as he later tweeted: 'The hangover has gone & life is good. Peace & love.'
According to his eldest daughter Abigail's Twitter page, it is her turn to comfort her father tonight, with a dinner in London.
Bannatyne has two other daughter from his marriage to first wife Gail - Jennifer and Eve.
He and Joanne have two children - Emily, 11 and Tom, nine.
A spokesperson for Bannatyne declined to comment.
