Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has withdrawn from the line-up of entrepreneurs on Dragons’ Den before appearing in a single episode.

The businessman will be replaced by Tej Lalvani, chief executive of vitamin company Vitabiotics, after admitting the BBC programme required a greater level of commitment than he could offer.

Parish said: “On reflection, I have come to the conclusion that I couldn’t give Dragons’ Den the time and commitment the show needs and that the entrepreneurs deserve, therefore I have decided to give up my Dragons’ seat to someone else.”

 Steve Parish
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish (Andrew Matthews/PA)

He had only been announced as one of the show’s new dragons earlier this month, alongside former banker Jenny Campbell.

Lalvani said he was “excited” to join the programme, adding: “I’m a shrewd investor and I’m looking forward to finding hard-working, passionate people to share my business experience and knowledge with.”

He will join Campbell, Peter Jones – who has starred in the show since it launched – Deborah Meaden and Touker Suleyman, as more budding entrepreneurs vie for financial investment and support running their businesses.