Peter Jones has been a Dragon's Den investor since the programme's first British series.
Jones is a British entrepreneur and businessman whose interests have included technology, mobile communications, media and property. He joined the original investor panel when the British edition launched in 2005 and became one of the programme's most recognisable permanent figures.
His long tenure is significant because the panel has changed repeatedly. Other well-known dragons, including Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis, joined after the first series, while several investors served for limited runs. Jones therefore provides a direct link between the programme's launch and its later seasons.
People sometimes confuse “original dragon” with “longest-serving dragon.” In the British series, Jones is the enduring original panel member most closely associated with both descriptions. He is also known for founding Phones International Group and for supporting technology and consumer businesses beyond television. His on-screen role is to assess the idea, the entrepreneur, the market and the proposed valuation before deciding whether to make an offer.