Peter Jones was one of the five original dragons when the British series Dragons' Den launched.
The original panel consisted of Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, Simon Woodroffe and Doug Richard. These investors established the show's early identity and demonstrated the different styles that could appear in a pitch: some focused on retail, some on finance, some on branding and some on the entrepreneur's ability to execute.
Peter Jones is a British entrepreneur and businessman associated with technology, retail and consumer businesses. He became one of the programme's longest-serving investors and was recognisable for his tall stature and direct questioning. His participation continued through many later series, helping make him one of the show's best-known dragons.
Deborah Meaden, Kelly Hoppen and Touker Suleyman are also genuine dragons from later periods, which makes them tempting alternatives. They were not members of the five-person panel that launched the British version in 2005.