Hilary Devey’s tragic family life and hidden sorrow as Dragons’ Den star dies aged 65

As news breaks that Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey has passed away, we look back at the mum-of-one's 'secret family' sorrow which saw history repeating itself

With her no-nonsense attitude and witty one liners, Hilary Devey appeared like a pillar of strength on Dragons' Den.

The Bolton-born businesswoman was a self-made millionaire and worked hard for the life she had.

But Hilary was hiding a painful past, which saw a 'secret family' discovery sting her twice.

As the sad news breaks that the star has passed away, aged 65, we look back at Hilary's tragic family life.

Childhood secrets

Hilary was born to Arthur and Wyn in 1957.

Her father ran a successful central heating business and the star recalled her parents were "as perfectly turned out as Don and Betty Draper".

However when Arthur went bankrupt when Hilary was seven, things began to unravel.

Bailiffs were reportedly called to the family home before Hilary's mum discovered, years into her relationship with her husband, that he already had a wife and four children.

Speaking on Desert Island Discs, Hilary said: "She left him initially and then he went and got her back - but my mother was the love of my father's life."

Sexual assault

Hilary revealed she was raped at the age of 12 but kept the attack secret for 43 years.

The multi-millionaire said she she was sexually abused as a youngster by a man near her parents' pub in Accrington, Lancashire.

The logistics queen was the star of Dragons' Den

The star spoke of the ordeal for the first time in her autobiography, Bold as Brass.

In her book she wrote: "He kept me there with him all night - the b****** who thought that raping a child was his due at the end of the night.'

He kept her imprisoned all night and repeatedly abused her as she feared she would die during the ordeal.

The next day her father shouted at her for staying out all night and she did not tell her parents about the rape.

Hilary told The Sun: "I didn't cry or sob, try to explain or beg to be forgiven. I knew that my world had changed for ever."

The star was a breath of fresh air on the show

Image:

( BBC/Andy Farrington)

History repeating itself

The logistics expert told Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs she was "devastated" in the 1980s when she took a call from a woman who said she was her partner's wife and he had five children.

Revealing her shock, she said: "My son was probably about 18 months old and I was sat on the sofa with Hussein watching television.

"The phone rang and a lady at the other end said 'I'm Hussein's wife and I want to talk to you about the five children he left behind.

"When I did find out in later years and asked him why he'd be lying, he said 'because I didn't want to lose you.'"

Hilary was previously married to Malcolm Sharples, Ed Devey and Phil Childs.

Speaking about her divorce with Phil in 2013, the entrepreneur said ­divorcing for a third time was “one of the unhappiest periods of my life”.

"Never one to give up"

Image:

( BBC/Andy Farrington)

She added: “It’s bloody hard knowing a third relationship has gone down the pan. I feel hurt, angry and a little bit bewildered because I can’t seem to get it right with men.

"I will never marry again.”.

Despite her dark past, the entrepreneur never gave up.

Writing on her website, she said: "Never one to give up I have successfully overcome every hurdle obstructing my way and am living proof that if you set your mind to do something anyone can achieve amazing results."

That's for certain.

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