Peter Jones joined Dragon's Den as an investor in the first series in 2005 and became its longest-serving dragon.
Jones is a British entrepreneur whose business interests have included telecommunications, technology, media, and retail. His presence from the programme's launch made him one of the defining members of the original investment panel. He is known on the show for examining a pitch's valuation, sales potential, and ability to scale.
The first series included several investors who were later replaced or rotated. Jones's continued participation made him distinct from dragons who joined in later series, including Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden, and Duncan Bannatyne. His long association with the programme is a useful way to distinguish him from later panel members.
This fact is separate from the identity of the first female dragon and from the question of which investor appeared in every UK series. It focuses specifically on Jones's joining the original 2005 panel and his status as the longest-serving investor.