He is owner, chairman and chief executive officer of various businesses ranging from telecoms and leisure to publishing, media and recruitment.

The success of this empire is the latest in a long line of achievements for Jones. At the age of 16, after completing the Lawn Tennis Association’s coaching examinations, Peter set up his first company, a successful tennis academy at a local club. He started his first major business at just 18, providing computers and services to corporate clients.

He started his telecoms business, Phones International Group, in 1998. The firm experienced explosive growth with revenue totalling £14 million by the end of the first year and £44 million by the end of the second. Group turnover for 2005/2006 totalled in excess of £180 million. The group counts every leading brand in the wireless communications industry among its business partners, whether as a supplier, customer or collaborator. Polls have shown it is recognised as one of the most successful businesses in the UK.

However, it hasn’t always been plain-sailing for Peter. One of Peter’s first ventures failed badly, leaving him penniless. In retrospect, he says he made some naïve mistakes, such as not protecting his business from bad creditors, and was carried away with the trappings of success when he should have kept a closer eye on the business. It was this experience that led to his personal mantra “there’s no such things as failure, just feedback.”

Peter is now keen to bring his exceptional business experience and skills to a wide audience. Peter caught the public eye with his appearance on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den series. He has also created and stars in a US TV show for ABC called American Inventor.

Tycoon is his first series for ITV1 and is being made by his production company, Peter Jones TV. For him, there is a clear ethos behind series. He says: “We're a nation of wasted ideas and talent. I want to inspire people to take a risk and become entrepreneurs. I've handpicked a diverse group of people, not the normal suited and booted types you see in business, to show that if you've got a good idea mixed with passion anyone can do it. I also want to take the mystery out of making money.”