Dragons’ Den finally returns after a couple of months hiatus, and episode 10 features pitches for a cooking monitor, Liha beauty products, and a ginger-based alcohol-free drink.

After weeks of confusion, Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett are back on our screens.

Fans have been understandably pretty miffed of late, after the series disappeared halfway through a season. For no discernible reason.

Now, the missing episodes of Dragons’ Den will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this month. And episode 10 includes some fascinating pitches for new inventions. Here’s everything you need to know.

Dragons’ Den series 22 episode 10 pitches: Pippa AI pad cooking monitor

First up in the Den is Londoner Doctor Samuel Bailey. He calls himself a “serial inventor” and admits he’s always liked “making things”. He aims to spark the Dragons’ interest with his innovative smart stove monitor which aims to reduce cooking fires in the home. It’s an invention he’s been using in his own home for five years!

He wants £100,000 investment in return for five per cent of the equity in his business – Pippa Technologies. Samuel explains how cooking is the number one cause of fires in the home. He believes his AI pad cooking monitor would reduce that.

Pippa is a smart fire prevention alarm. The smart device promises to “protect you, your home and your family from the dangers of kitchen fires”. It has been developed to assist with aspects of safety and cooking on any electric, gas or induction cooker hob.

Pippa is a patented invention that can prevent fires before they start. It does this by detecting the potential risks of fire on your stove and warning you. It “warns you four minutes faster than your regular fire alarm”.

Pippa Smart AI can also connect to your phone via Bluetooth and give you live temperatures of all your pans. You can set a desired cooking temperature and Pippa will tell you when the pan is at the right temperature, when to turn the heat up or down, and when your food is cooked.

Prices from the device start from £179.99. Peter Jones calls Samuel a “very skilled creator and inventor”. But will he invest?

‘Superior bodycare’ Liha Beauty products from Africa

Two very likeable university friends pitch their “superior bodycare” business Liha Beauty, which sources raw ingredients from Africa. Londoner Abi Oyepitan and Cheltenham-born Liha Okunniwa hope the shea-er brilliance of their rejuvenating body care brand will shine through…

The Liha Beauty products are a blend of African botanicals, and English aromatherapy – taking inspiration from their Yoruba and British heritage. They sell anything from Idan Oil, to candles, and cleansing balms.

All ingredients and products are 100% cruelty-free and untouched by harmful petrochemicals or unsafe toxins. Prices start from £16 for their Osé Gidi Black Soap. Us Vogue described the company as “bottling Africa’s best kept beauty secret”. Their celebrity fans include Lenny Kravitz, and FK Twigs. They are stocked in Sephora, and Space NK.

The duo ask for 100k in exchange for 10% of the business. And if their youthful looks are anything to go by, the 44-year-olds might well get an offer…

The Dragons call the products “beautiful”, but are the margins quite as pretty?

Dragons’ Den pitches: Mother Root non-alcoholic ginger drink

London entrepreneurs Alice Galsworthy and Bethan Hisgon pitch their zesty, ginger-based alcohol alternative Mother Root. They want £60,000 in return for two per cent of the business.

The company provided “flavour-full and benefit-rich drinks that are actually good for you”. The “vibrant” drinks have a (not-so) secret weapon – organic apple cider vinegar.

Mother Root say: “Our aperitifs are activated by apple cider vinegar – our version of liquid seasoning. Thanks to its acidity, our apple cider vinegar magnifies flavour by brightening, balancing and enhancing the ingredients in our aperitifs. ”

The “fiery and fresh” Mother Root Ginger is the original “feel-good, non-alcoholic aperitif”. One bottle costs £27.95.

With several non-drinkers on the panel, will any of the Dragons want a taste of the business?

Fruit-shaped shoe deodoriser Boot Bananas

Bournemouth-based business owner and “serial inventor” Phil Osband wants the Dragons to invest in his fruit-shaped shoe deodoriser. In exchange for eight per cent equity in Boot Bananas, Phil wants £200,000.

The “unique and sustainable’ shoe care accessory brand has the tag line: “Make smelly shoes a thing of the past with our range of shoe deodorisers and sprays.”

Rock climber Phil designed the Boot Bananas without any synthetic chemicals. Instead, he used a powerful blend of naturally deodorising salts and minerals. Add the optimum shoe-friendly shape of a banana, and a touch of lavender, and the Boot Bananas were born.

Simply pop them in your shoes (when you’re not wearing them!) The original shoe deodoriser is moisture-absorbing to combat extreme funky feet. Prices start at £12.99.

They last six to 12 months on average, and cannot go in the wash. Will the Dragons go “bananas” for his invention?

Read more: Dragons’ Den series 22: Guest judge Trinny Woodall swears at business entrepreneur over pitch

Dragons’ Den series 22 continues with episode 10 on Thursday, October o2, 2025 at 8pm.