![\"Television](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PM_21537228-b78b.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe former Dragon claimed he is able to prove that Peter Jones went AWOL if he tries to deny it (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe former Dragon claimed he is able to prove that Peter Jones went AWOL if he tries to deny it (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
A Dragons\u2019 Den<\/a> star has claimed he was responsible for keeping the smash TV hit on our screens after Peter Jones<\/a> went \u2018AWOL\u2019 during a crucial deal.<\/p>\n Theo Paphitis, who left the Den after series 10 in 2012, has insisted that the BBC<\/a> programme, which is currently in its 23rd season, would not have made it past the second had it not been for him and Peter.<\/p>\n The Greek-Cypriot businessman claimed that between the pair of them they rescued a company that was owned by Rachel Elnaugh, who was a Dragon on the first two series.<\/p>\n Theo said he saved Red Letter days, an e-commerce company that gifts experience day vouchers instead of traditional physical items, from collapsing after it went into administration in 2005. <\/p>\n \u2018Rachel Elnaugh had an almighty cock-up and the company went into administration and there was a warded action special on it,\u2019 Theo told the motoring podcast Fuelling Around<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018On the basis that at the beginning of the show they showed these titans of British business; she was on a motorbike, a powerful lady, we\u2019re all in chauffeur-driven cars, boats and planes and then her business had gone bust. They decided to can it, they wasn\u2019t going to broadcast it.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018So you might never have seen it if it wasn\u2019t for me and the tall fella buying it; well not so much him because he went AWOL on me during the process of the deal. <\/p>\n \u2018I won\u2019t go there now but you know exactly where you were Jonesy. He went AWOL, and I\u2019ve got the WhatsApps to prove it if he denies it. It was texts, not WhatsApps, in those days.\u2019<\/p>\n The former chairman of Millwall Football Club also added: \u2018We made good all the vouchers that were outstanding. The BBC then felt there\u2019s a story here we can now show it and she was replaced the following season by the brilliant Deborah Meaden<\/a> and it went from strength to strength.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHave you heard about this Dragons’ Den success story?\t\t\t<\/p>\n The business guru and Peter sold Red Letter Days for an undisclosed sum to rival SmartBox in September 2017. At the time it was making a turnover of \u00a326million.<\/p>\n Theo lists Robert Dyas, Ryman Stationery and Boux Avenue among his business portfolio. <\/p>\n The multi-millionaire, who was speaking to TV presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson and broadcaster Dave Vitty on the podcast, also discussed his \u2018tense\u2019 time in the Den.<\/p>\n \u2018I didn\u2019t know any of them beforehand,\u2019 he explained. \u2018I met Jonesy, the tall fella, once when he came to try and sell me something at my offices but that was it \u2013 it was just a one in, one out.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018It was tense because, don\u2019t forget, that was the beginning. The programme had no catchphrase. The \u201cI\u2019m Out\u201d bit was made up as we went along. Nobody really knew how it was going to work out. <\/p>\n \u2018They did a pilot, which I wasn\u2019t in, and then they commissioned it. I was in that, they swapped me over for Simon Woodroffe. It was massively competitive, the egos were embarrassing, to be honest with you in that first series.<\/p>\n \u2018We nearly didn\u2019t even start it because the set was rubbish and the producers and directors didn\u2019t like the set. They sent us all home, then they got us back and sorted out the set, and we finished the series.\u2019<\/p>\n This comes after it was revealed that a Dragons\u2019 Den star\u2019s company that was branded \u2018delusional\u2019 is now worth more than \u00a37,500,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the BBC has not yet confirmed a specific return date for the second half of the latest series, a guest Dragon will appear alongside regulars Peter, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett<\/a> and Touker Suleyman<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dragons\u2019 Den is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n![\"Television](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PM_21733209-f975-e1779983956111.jpg\")
\n\t\tTheo Paphitis left the Den after series 10 back in 2012 (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"TELEVISION](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PM_21708811-0589.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe business mogul claimed he and Peter Jones saved the show from extinction (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_292199244-3f0b.jpg\")
\n\t\tTheo and Peter sold Red Letter Days for an undisclosed sum in 2017 (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"Television](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AY_92488514-d143.jpg\")
\n\t\tTheo lists the likes of Robert Dyas, Ryman Stationery and Boux Avenue among his portfolio (Picture: BBC\/Andy Farrington)<\/p>\n