DRAGONS' Den star Duncan Bannatyne last night denied reports he is suicidal.

A spokesman for the North-East entrepreneur told The Northern Echo: "There is absolutely no truth in the suggestion that he is down and depressed.

"He is very busy and fully committed to his television work and business interests."

The statement by the Scot, whose Bannatyne Group head office is in Darlington, followed reports that he was considering killing himself following problems with his marriage to second wife Joanne, 45.

The speculation began on Friday when he is said to have told his 350,000 followers on Twitter: "My day could not have been worse. Suicide is a considered option."

Earlier he tweeted: "Is death the end? Or is there more?"

Mr Bannatyne insists his tweets were taken out of context and did not mean he was actually considering taking his own life.

"Contrary to recent speculation, Duncan Bannatyne is well and enjoying the 12 hour days filming Dragons' Den currently," added his spokesman.

And last night Mr Bannatyne returned to Twitter to say: "If any newspaper says I am depressed or suicidal I can assure they are talking rubbish."

The Clydebank-born former Royal Navy stoker, now oversees a business empire which includes a chain of 61 health clubs, several hotels, a bar and a company which builds high quality homes and creative agency Bannatyne Digital.

When Mr Bannatyne appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs last March he revealed how he struggled with depression and came close to considering suicide when her realised his marriage to his first wife, with whom he has four children, was over.

"I'm a very emotional person," he added. "I try to hide it but it's there. I go with the children to the movies and sit and cry."

Mr Bannatyne, who has a home on Wynyard Estate and in London, married Joanne in 2006 in Norton, near Stockton. The couple have two children