Ex-wife sets up gym opposite Duncan Bannatyne HQ

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Duncan Bannatyne's ex-wife has taken out a billboard to advertise her new gym - over the road from the HQ of the Dragon's Den star's health club empire.

Joanne McCue Bannatyne is pictured on the poster, which includes the phrase 'Welcome Your New Neighbours'.

She set up her CrossFit Gym in the former Darlington FC stadium in May, while her 64-year-old ex-husband's nationwide gym empire is based in the town's Haughton Road.

And over the road from the health centre and offices, she has placed an advert for her fledgling business.

She was unavailable for comment, but told the Northern Echo newspaper: "Whether or not it's controversial, it picks up people driving into town from Teesside."

Duncan's spokesman said he declined to comment.

His divorce from his second wife has been acrimonious and the Californian-style five-bedroom family home in Wynyard, County Durham, was put up for sale earlier this year.

Earlier this week it emerged that the price has been dropped by £75,000 to £800,000.

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.