Hilary Devey heartbroken son pays tribute to ‘shining light’ Dragons’ Den star

• Hussein Ahmet, a Turkish businessman, fathered Mevlit Brewster-Ahmet.
• Former Dragons’ Den star Hilary Devey died in Morocco on Saturday at the age of 65.
• Hilary Devey, star of Dragon’s Den and The Secret Millionaire, has died at the age of 60.

Hilary Devey ’s son has paid a moving tribute to the former Dragons’ Den star, saying: “My mum was with my for my first breaths and I was with her for her last.”

Hussein Ahmet, a Turkish businessman, fathered Hilary’s kid Mevlit Brewster-Ahmet.

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Mevlit said in a statement released by Hilary’s lawyer Chris Waters at Meaby & Co Solicitors: “She was a beautiful woman, a beautiful person and a beautiful mum with a beautiful heart.

“We were together from start right up until the end. We helped each other through the worst times in our lives and the best times. It was always me and my mum against the world as we watched over each other in our own way.

“She was my shining light in my darkest days and I was her protector in her darkest days.

“She helped so many people in her life – so please everyone never forget about my beautiful mum and pray that she is now in a better place, happy and content and comfortable.

“My mum was with my for my first breaths and I was with her for her last. Rest in peace Mum – I will never stop loving you.”

Hilary spoke previously about looking after her son, when he was addicted to heroin. “The hardest work I’ve ever done is pulling my son back from the grip of heroin,” she said in 2011.

Hilary died in Morocco, where she owned a villa, on Saturday at the age of 65, following a protracted illness.

She started the two-part Dragons’ Den series in 2011 and left in 2012 to host The Intern.

Hannah Wyatt, managing director of factual entertainment and events at BBC Studios, said last week: “Hilary Devey will always hold a unique place in the hearts of Dragons’ Den viewers and the programme team.

“We are all extremely saddened by her loss and our thoughts at this time are with her family and friends.”

She was awarded a CBE in 2013 for her commercial success as well as her charity contributions.

She started Pall-Ex, a multimillion-pound freight distribution company, after selling her home and car to fund it in the 1990s.

Her charitable activity included serving as vice president of the Carers Trust and as a patron of the Stroke Association, after suffering a stroke herself in 2009.

Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “We are sad to hear that Hilary Devey has died after a long illness.

“After having a stroke herself, she was a long-time ambassador of the Stroke Association and we are very grateful for all the support she gave us over the years.

“Hilary was keen that all stroke survivors received the help and support they need to rebuild their lives after stroke. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.”

Devey also starred in Channel 5’s The Business Inspector and Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire in 2008.

Devey was born in Bolton and began working in her parents’ pubs and corner shop when she was seven years old.

She dropped out of school at the age of 16 and moved to London to work in logistics for firms such as TNT.

Devey rose to prominence after taking over as James Caan’s replacement on Dragon’s Den, later revealing that her biggest investment was a mattress/duvet for caravans, boats, and lorries.

In 2017, Devey gave up cigarettes after reportedly smoking “at least 20 a day for over 40 years”.

“I’ve been hooked on cigarettes and ignoring the damage – even though I know the harm I’m doing,” she said at the time.

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“I’ve found it extremely difficult to quit for good.”

Bold As Brass: My Story, her autobiography, was published in 2012, and it chronicled her life from her humble beginnings as a Bolton girl, recalling the bailiffs calling when her father’s central heating business went bankrupt, to the multimillionaire businesswoman she became with properties in Spain, Marrakech, and Florida.