He’s been a mainstay of Dragon’s Den since it launched back in January 2005, but now – as it prepares to air its 23rd season – Peter Jones has revealed one of his hidden “tactics”. The businessman was speaking whilst appearing alongside new Dragon, Jenna Meek, on tonight’s The One Show.
When host Roman Kemp asked him about using “some psychology tactics in the Den”, he confirmed: “I’ve never really disclosed them. Genuinely not.”
He added: “I’ve got twelve. Would you like to know one?”
After being given the green-light, he explained: “When we’re all lined up, I find an element of the pitch, about the business, that is a little bit flawed.
“But it’s a bit that I know that I can fix. So if I know I can fix that problem, I will over-accentuate that issue with the business and the pitch.”
Photographer://BBC
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It’s all a ploy to get his co-stars to drop out, though, as he explained: “All the other Dragons are listening. They go, ‘of course… for that reason, I’m out’. And then I go, ‘however, thanks for going out – I can sort that, because I’ve got this’. That’s number one of twelve! There’s a few more.”
Alongside Meek, another new addition to the line-up of Dragons this season is none other than musician Tinie Tempah, real name Patrick Okogwu.
He said in a statement confirming his arrival: “I’ve been a fan of the show and the Dragons for over a decade. I’ve been entrepreneurial from the start of my music career and began angel investing around 2016.
“When I was asked to be a guest Dragon, I simply couldn’t refuse. Outside of music and entertainment, I’m interested in technology, health, food and beverage and crypto/Web3.”
Susan Ma, formerly a third-place finisher on The Apprentice, is also set to appear, as is returning guest Gary Neville.
“Having been a guest Dragon before I’ve got more of a bite this time and you’ll see that come through,” Neville said.
BBC
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Meek, meanwhile, teased of her involvement: “I think I’m quite a funny Dragon! I definitely found myself sticking up for the entrepreneurs and even telling the other Dragons off a few times.
“I really resonated with the people standing in front of us because I was in their position almost eight years ago.”
She added: “I was empathetic towards the entrepreneurs and much more competitive with my fellow Dragons. I was still very much a Dragon, just maybe a tougher one on the panel than on the entrepreneurs! It surprised me how protective I felt over them, but it felt very true to who I am.”
Dragon’s Den airs on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online; specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who’ll listen.