The celebrity world is full of twists and turns - but this week it went to a new level with ex-Manchester United start-turned-broadcaster announcing he was to join Dragons’ Den as a guest on the BBC One show in 2024.
The outspoken pundit is a regular on the television screens through his work with Sky Sports. This, however, is a whole new ball game with him set to judge would-be entrepreneurs’ hopes and dreams.
Neville has had success himself in property and so this career shift might not be as bizarre as it first seemed. On the move, he said: “I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you’ve had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.”
So while he prepares to join the regular cast of dragons, including Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden, with the help of some suggestions on BBC Radio Bristol this morning, we provide some other interesting career changes:
1. Kim Wilde
1980s pop singer Kim Wild become a worldwide hit with ‘Kids in America’. But in 1998 she branched into an alternative career as a landscape gardener. She said the interest resurfaced during her first pregnancy. She appeared in TV programmes Better Gardens and Garden Invaders, and won a gold award at the Chelsea Flower show in 2005.
2. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Meghan was working as actress and starred in Suits. But she dramatically changed her career to become royalty after she wed Prince Harry in 2018. She reportedly said she had no plans resume life on screen.
3. Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin has a successful football career with spells at Manchester United, Coventry City and Aston Villa. He was also capped for England four times. But after retirement, alongside football punditry, he joined Lucy Alexander and Martin Roberts to present Homes Under the Hammer in 2015.
4. Shaun Williamson
Shaun Williams played the fictional character Barry Evans in Eastenders for 10 years until 2004. Now the actor has found a new line of work, hosting a musical event called Barrioke. He appeared at Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham just last month.