Dragon Duncan blames lay-offs on divorce (From The Northern Echo)
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Businessman reveals on Twitter his divorce has been finalised
11:54pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News
HAPPIER TIMES: Duncan Bannatyne and ex-wife Joanne McCue
NORTH-EAST businessman Duncan Bannatyne has confirmed he is having to make staff redundant due to the cost of his divorce.
In a series of tweets this evening, the Dragons Den star disclosed that his divorce has been finalised - and he appeared to launch an outspoken attack on his ex-wife Joanne McCue and her family.
Mr Bannatyne, 63, who owns a string of health clubs and has his headquarters in Darlington, tweeted: "I just received my Decree Absolute by email, isn't that nice?
Last year, the businessman reassured staff everything was being done to safeguard jobs, despite having to pay out a large divorce settlement.
But, as part of a conversation on Twitter, he said he had "no spare cash & having to make staff redundent (sic) due to cost of divorce."
The tweets appeared to include a series of swipes at his ex-wife, Ms McCue, who he married in 2006.
Mr Bannatyne's press spokesman was not commenting on the tweets. Friends said emotions were clearly raw with the Decree Absolute arriving by email.
Comments(17)
BishBashBosh123
says...
2:33am Thu 24 Jan 13
Hunty1
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7:20am Thu 24 Jan 13
Quaker79
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7:43am Thu 24 Jan 13
foss
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8:17am Thu 24 Jan 13
Brighouseandback
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8:40am Thu 24 Jan 13
BeverleyWM
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9:50am Thu 24 Jan 13
He has brought a lot of jobs to the North East and worked hard to get where he is today. Atleast he has been honest enoughto say as to why he had to lay staff off.
Yemen
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10:06am Thu 24 Jan 13
???Clubber???
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10:34am Thu 24 Jan 13
"Duncan I'm not so keen on you... and, for that reason, I'M OUT!"
Brighouseandback
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10:59am Thu 24 Jan 13
BeverleyWM wrote:....or maybe he's using it as an excuse! No he wouldn't do that would he....?
Leave him alone.
He has brought a lot of jobs to the North East and worked hard to get where he is today. Atleast he has been honest enoughto say as to why he had to lay staff off.
RXRob83
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11:36am Thu 24 Jan 13
BeverleyWM wrote:Does he pay you a good salary BeverleyWM?
Leave him alone.
He has brought a lot of jobs to the North East and worked hard to get where he is today. Atleast he has been honest enoughto say as to why he had to lay staff off.
Darlogirl1
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11:39am Thu 24 Jan 13
Hunty1 wrote:Oh please be quiet....she is the one who has been at home bringing his children up, ran the house she deserves what she deserves.
I think people should wind their necks in and be a little more understanding of his situation, he's the one who has earned the money, the wives of these rich men have lived the life also! Greed always takes over in a divorce..
This post from him on twitter just goes to prove that he is a bitter pity me person who openly puts the blame on his wife the mother of his children that he might have to lay staff off.....if he was a "man" he would of remained silent and vented in his anger in private...it says it all i think?
Darlogirl1
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1:11pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Quaker79 wrote:CORRECT.....
Or maybe he's laying people off because his health clubs are extortionately expensive and people are finding better value elsewhere.
greenfinger
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3:49pm Thu 24 Jan 13
cromwell1599
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4:54pm Thu 24 Jan 13
greenfinger wrote:Well said, couldn't agree more. It's hardly his employee's fault if he gets taken to the cleaners by his ex wife, they should all get together and put unfair dismissal claims in.
the man is an utter cretin. attention seeking of the sickest kind. id take him to tribunal because this has nothing to do with the profitability of the gym or business. its clearly unfair, if he'd have treated his wife like this she's got good reason to take him for everything she could. the mans a moron,
victorjames
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7:57pm Thu 24 Jan 13
Brighouseandback wrote:Exactly. I suspect that he;s exactly how he appears on Dragons Den, a miserable sour Gradgrind Scotsman with no sense of humour. This is the man who took time out to write an abusive personal letter to a cancer sufferer who had the affrontery to try and stop her gym direct debits whilst she was unable to use the facilities. Really a most unpleasant man
What an odious individual....
spragger
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8:27pm Thu 24 Jan 13
'How to manage an amicable Divorce'
fratia says...
1:30am Thu 24 Jan 13