Beat the clock

Dragons' Den star Sara Davies hosts an electrifying new quiz show

- WORDS: JEN PHARO

On Dragons’ Den she'd often say the classic line: “I’m out.” Now Sara Davies has a catchphrase all of her own in her new game show Time Is Money.

The crafting queen, 41, tells unlucky contestants “you're out of time and you're out of money” when they lose all their cash in the teatime quiz.

Loved for her natural warmth, Sara admits that sending contestants home empty handed made her feel like Anne Robinson, who was dubbed the Queen of Mean for her withering put-downs as presenter of The Weakest Link.

“You know how Anne Robinson just goes ‘bye’?” asks Sara. “I felt a little bit Anne Robinson-ish because when a contestant would be eliminated, they would come to the edge of the stage and I'd say, ‘You're out of time and you're out of money!’ I felt rotten. Then they had to walk past us and do the walk of shame.”

It's a harsh exit for unfortunate contestants, but Sara insists she’s not brutal like Anne — instead she’s taking tips from The Chase and Blankety Blank host Bradley Walsh. “No, I am the opposite of that!” insists Sara.

“I was wanting them all to win so badly — it's like I'm willing with my eyes, especially when it gets to the end.”