Dragons’ Den tycoon Peter Jones in talks to enter US version Shark Tank

Telly entrepreneur Peter Jones is ready to breathe some fire into the US version of Dragons’ Den.

The businessman is in talks to shake up Shark Tank, which he reckons is far too tame compared to the UK show.

Peter, who has already starred in reality show American Inventor across the pond, says: “They’re very successful men and women but they’re pussy cats when it comes to what we do here.”

He adds: “I’ve been in discussions about helicoptering me in and having a chat about going into Shark Tank. I’m quite interested in doing that.

"I think it could do with a bit of a mix-up. They’re all very nice and business isn’t always nice.”

The new series of Dragons’ Den starts tonight, and Peter, part of the line-up since the first series in 2005, says viewers will see him make a six figure investment for just two per cent of a tech company.

“I think that investment could surpass Levi in terms of its value,” he says, referring to his backing of Levi Roots’ Reggae Reggae sauce company, which turned into a £30million success

Viewers will see Peter, 52, star in the 16th series of the BBC2 hit alongside Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Jenny Campbell and Tej Lalvani.

But the entrepreneur admits he hasn’t always made the best decisions on the show – at least in the eyes of his kids: “I’m terribly embarrassed about the Tangle Teezer because I’ve got four daughters and I said, ‘It’s just a brush isn’t it?’

"My 10-year-old was looking at me going, ‘Dad, you’re so stupid’. I wish she was in the Den helping me!”

Another investment often reported as escaping the Dragons is Trunki, the ride-on kids’ suitcase which became a bestseller. But Peter disagrees.

“We never missed Trunki,” he says. “It was over-valued when it came in. It probably isn’t worth the value it said even 10 years later.”

As well as his kids, Peter’s mum also has strong opinions on the show. “I’ve gone a little bit unshaven because my kids say it’s cool at the moment… but when I told my mum, she was horrified,” he says.

“She’s got VHS tapes of every single show and she said, ‘You don’t go in the Den like that do you? I don’t know if I can watch it any more.’”

Viewers will be delighted to hear the dad of five’s excitement for the show hasn’t waned over the years.

He says: “When you’re in that chair and you have the opportunity to meet the next Levi Roots, even my heart still races.”

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