Peter Jones is the original Dragon's Den investor who has remained on the panel since the British show's 2005 launch.
Jones was part of the initial investor line-up when the BBC introduced the British version of the Japanese business format. His interests have included technology, communications, property and consumer businesses, giving him a broad profile among the Dragons.
Several other early investors became strongly associated with the programme, including Theo Paphitis, Duncan Bannatyne and Richard Farleigh. They did not, however, remain permanent members of the panel for the entire run. This makes Jones's continuing presence a distinctive fact about the show's history.
The phrase “original investor” refers to the launch panel rather than to every person who appeared in the first broadcast. Panel membership has changed repeatedly as investors have joined, departed or returned as guest Dragons.