Risking It All is a British reality television series produced by Ricochet in which self-made millionaire Martin Webb guides fledgling entrepreneurs as they gamble their livelihoods in the hope of creating their own successful businesses.
The series premiered in the UK on Channel 4 in 2004. There are 15 hour-long episodes in three seasons.
Risking It All premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Knowledge channel on Thursday 4 September 2008, at 21h30.
Season 2 premiered on BBC Knowledge on Thursday 30 October 2008, at 21h30. There are 10 hour-long episodes in the second season.
Repeats
Fridays: 04h00, 06h00, 09h00, 14h30
Saturdays: 21h00
Synopsis
Many people dream of quitting a job and setting up their own business. But how many would put their money, their homes and sometimes their relationships at stake to do just that?
Presented by Martin Webb, Risking It All follows five fledgling entrepreneurs as they gamble their livelihoods in the hope of creating their own successful businesses.
What makes a softly spoken chemist and a civil servant think they have the winning formula to beat McDonalds and KFC at the fast food restaurant game?
Or what possesses a couple with a comfortable lifestyle to put it all on the line, to go into an industry they know nothing about, and set up a chain of women’s fashion stores at a time when one in three fashion shops are going bust?
And why does a garden centre manager think he can run a hip hair salon?
Because they all have a dream.
This fly-on-the-wall series follows fledgling entrepreneurs through the make-or-break period of their first year in a new business, from the months of preparation to the big opening day and through the first challenging months of trading.
From the initial company start-up to the first months of trading, Risking It All exposes the huge challenges and potential rewards faced by each individual as they attempt to go it alone.
They face problems with staff, fierce financial targets, growing debts and, above all, strains on friendships and marriages.
Whether visionary or just plain deluded, the entrepreneurs experience the real pain and hard work required to follow a dream.