Chicken hotel owner pitches to Dragons' Den

Katriona Shovlin pitched her chicken hotel to the dragons

A businesswoman has pitched her idea of a hotel for chickens on the BBC TV show Dragons' Den.

Katriona Shovlin has been running Hen Weekend Chicken Boarding from her home in Upchurch, Kent, since late 2023.

The TV programme - in which contestants pitch a business idea to judges - returns for series 22 on BBC One on Thursday.

Ms Shovlin said the experience had been "emotional, amazing" and she would "happily do it all over again".

Steven Bartlett, Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies return to Dragons' Den for a 22nd series

The filming took place in Salford in July in front of regular judges Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.

But Ms Shovlin said it had been the special guest dragon, fitness guru Joe Wicks, who helped put her at ease.

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

The chicken hotel grew from a hen house in her back garden to care for abandoned birds.

But Ms Shovlin soon was taking care of family pets when their owners were away.

Ms Shovlin looks after family pets at her chicken hotel when their owners are away

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.

"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 hen hotel owner's most high profile in the media so far after previously featuring in national newspapers and on BBC Radios 1 and 2 when the business launched.

Ms Shovlin said she had been surprised when the TV producers first got in touch.

"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."

Viewers can see if Ms Shovlin was successful in her pitch for investment on Dragons' Den at 20:00 GMT on Thursday on BBC One and on BBCiPlayer.