Peter Jones was the original dragon who remained on the British series Dragons' Den after all the other launch investors had left.
Jones was part of the original panel when the British version began in 2005. The other launch investors were Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, Doug Richard and Simon Woodroffe. Over subsequent series, the panel changed repeatedly as dragons departed and new investors joined.
Jones therefore became the programme's longest-serving dragon and the only member of the original panel to continue through the later line-ups. His continued presence is one reason viewers sometimes assume he founded the programme, although Dragons' Den is a television format rather than his own business venture.
Peter Jones is associated with investments in technology, retail, media and consumer businesses. His public profile also predates the programme, including work in computers and telecommunications. The phrase “original dragon” refers to the launch panel, not to every investor who joined during the show's first few series.