THEO PAPHITIS, the former star of Dragons’ Den, is in talks with the BBC about a variation on the business reality television show in which children would pitch ideas for business schemes.

“There is every chance next year that there will be a TV show. It is something we are looking at, at the moment . . . I would think about opening a free school, too,” he said.

The businessman, who owns the stationery chain Ryman and the homeware firm Robert Dyas, also called for children as young as eight to be offered lessons on how to set up their own businesses.

“The government is doing as much as any government has but we need to push this further. This is about inspiring the next generation,” he said.

Sunday Times