Piers Linney is now at home in the Dragon’s Den.
A smartphone and a tailored suit are all surely on the priority list of any entrepreneur wanting to strike it rich. Not so, for Dragons’ Den star Piers Linney.
“I didn’t own a suit although I do have one now. I was invited to 10 Downing Street and it said, ‘lounge suit’. I had to apologise because I didn’t own one,” he admits.
The 43-year-old, dressed in all-black by British brand Alexander McQueen, joined the BBC2 show in 2013, taking over from Theo Paphitis.
Piers, co-CEO of IT business Outsourcery, reprises his role on the investors’ panel for the 12th series alongside “great friends” Kelly Hoppen, Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne and Deborah Meaden.
“We get on really well. What happens in the Den stays in the Den,” he reveals.
“I’m getting into the flow of things now. The first season, you’re trying to work out the Dragons’ personalities and tactics, so you see more of who I really am this time.
“Also, last year, people didn’t really know who the new Dragons were, now they do.”
While he remains tight-lipped about what deals he’s invested in, he reveals: “The other Dragons were saying the quality is higher than ever in this series.”
But Piers admits it took some persuasion from a well-known entrepreneur before he signed up for the show.
“I had a long, hard think about getting involved the downside is you become public property,” he recalls.
“I was with Sir Richard Branson on his private game reserve Ulusaba. I asked him what he thought, and he said, ‘Just do it’.”
The most bizarre pitch Piers has heard was for a self-filled bath.
“That will take some topping, but you’ll have to watch this series to find out.”
Dragons’ Den, BBC2, Sunday, 8pm.
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