1 June 2012 Last updated at 15:49

Hilary Devey to leave Dragons' Den

By Rumeana Jahangir Reporter, BBC Ariel

She's out: Hilary Devey will join Channel 4

The businesswoman Hilary Devey will leave Dragons' Den for Channel 4.

The announcement comes as filming on the 10th series of the popular BBC Two show will end soon in Salford, before airing this autumn.

As part of an exclusive two-year deal for Channel 4, Devey will front a new factual entertainment series called The Intern, also airing in the autumn, where candidates aim to win an internship with British business.

Devey, who founded the pallet exchange business Pall-Ex, rose to national prominence after joining Dragons' Den last year.

Her pithy comments ("You make my foot itch, mate") and shoulder-pads won several admirers and she was the subject of a one-off special Dragons' Den: The Hilary Devey Story in December.

A BBC spokesperson said: "Hilary has been a formidable Dragon in the Den and we're sorry to see her go.

"She will be breathing fire throughout the new series of Dragons' Den in the autumn on BBC Two but this upcoming series will be her last."

It is believed the BBC could not compete with Channel 4's offer, and the programme-makers will look for another "Dragon" to join Duncan Bannatyne, Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones.

Dragons' Den is produced in-house by Entertainment in Salford and peaked last year with an audience of 4.8 million.