Duncan Bannatyne 'could fire staff in divorce battle'

Duncan Bannatyne has warned that he may be forced to sack 43 members of his staff in a costly divorce battle.

The Dragons' Den star announced in July that he is separating from Joanne McCrue after nearly five years of marriage.

She is alleged to have asked Bannatyne for an allowance of £1,000 a day, as well as additional payments for their two children and houses in the UK and abroad.

However, the health club mogul has claimed that her demands would take a dramatic toll on his financial empire, according to the Daily Mail.

"Duncan's wealth is bound up in the value of his companies and he gives much of his earnings to charity," a source explained. "Duncan thinks it is unfair that the futures of his dedicated staff should be threatened by her demands and feels that they should both be more prudent in the economic climate."

Another insider added: "Duncan has been really upset by the break-up and has taken it quite badly.

"The thing is that his wife thinks he is much richer than he is. In reality, he is worth nowhere near her astronomical figure.

"Duncan's told the other Dragons about the problem and one of them even joked that he might have no money left to invest."

Bannatyne last month made a "substantial contribution" to a fund set up for victims of the UK riots.

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