About Theo:

Theo ran the tuck shop at school, but the man famed for his one liners in the Den would rather pass a kidney stone than spend his life making tuppence on fudge cake.

Most likely to say in the Den:

"Why should I part with any of my children's inheritance investing in this?"

Theo's career to date

Born in Cyprus, Theo came to England when he was six and was running the tuck shop at his North London school at 15.

Theo experienced rejection just like the rest of us early on, as he explains: "no one would give me a job and I couldn't understand how any of the half-wits that interviewed me got their jobs." He didn't let this stop him and started out as tea boy at a City insurance broker.

He found he had a flair for retail as a shop assistant at Watches of Switzerland but returned to the insurance industry in sales at 20, where he discovered his natural ability of pointing out the obvious and applying common sense. In no time he was helping businesses in difficulty and this soon became a full-time role.

Theo has turned stationers Ryman and Partners, and lingerie chains Contessa and La Senza into successful and profitable retail businesses. He now heads up a 350 store chain, with a group turnover approaching £250m. His latest ventures include Red Letter Days, the company he salvaged out of administration with fellow Dragon Peter Jones.

Theo spent eight years as Chairman of Milwall FC, taking it out of administration, into the Championship and as far as the UEFA cup, via an FA Cup Final. He has set up the Paphitis Charitable Trust to distribute all of his fees from TV appearances, speeches and his book to causes close to his heart and charities associated with children.

In the Den Theo's children's inheritance is important to him - he has five children and two grandchildren, and lives with his wife in Surrey.

We caught up with Theo for a quickfire Q&A

Name: Theo Paphitis

Age: 49

Family: Wife Debbie, Dominic, Zoe, Alex, Hollie & Annie

Pets: Claudia, Afghan 9 years - rescue dog

Describe yourself: Competitive, ants-in-my-pants, compassionate

Estimated wealth: In the hundreds of millions

Most outrageous purchase: Boat, summer 2008

One thing I always spend the extra on: I don't.  If there's extra, I put it away.

Best job I’ve had: Doing what I do now

Worst job I’ve had: Making the tea at Lloyds

The one thing I look for in employees: That the lights are on

Dream job: Got it

Last CD I bought (or downloaded): Eva Cassidy's Somewhere

Last gig / concert I went to: Madonna - it was as enjoyable as sticking pins in my eyes

Last film I saw: 21

Favourite holiday destination: Spain

Favourite sport, team and player: Football, Millwall, don't have one

Favourite pitch: Imran Hakim's iTeddy

Best investment to date: Imran Hakim's iTeddy

The one that got away: No such thing

I’d never invest in: Anything immoral or that exploits others