If you pay close attention to the telly landscape you start to notice that many of the winners of the world’s biggest TV shows – The Voice, Idols, The Apprentice, The X Factor etc- tend to disappear into obscurity the minute the second rerun of the awful show in question stops airing.

Yes I know One Direction came from The X Factor, but the show saw dollar signs and they didn’t let that one get away.

Dragons’ Den has also been syndicated around the world, although when it comes to the British version there is one clear winner in terms of success post-show. That title goes to Jordan Daykin, who was just 18 back in 2014 when he secured £80,000 from Den judge Debroah Meaden.

She’d be a rather happy judge about that decision, unlike the paedophile ex-judge Doug Richards who slept with a 13-year-old.

Here’s more on Jordan’s success from the Daily Mail:

It started out as a knick-knack invented by a teenager to help his grandfather put up a tricky curtain rail.

But eight years later, GripIt Fixings is a business worth £10million with eyes on the global market…

Daykin had left school at the time with no qualifications and had been told by teachers that he would never amount to anything.

However the budding entrepreneur found his big break on Dragons’ Den in 2014, securing an £80,000 investment from Debroah Meaden for his universal plasterboard fitting.

In less than two years, her money is now worth £2.5million, an increase of more than 30 times.

If that doesn’t make you want to pat him on the back then consider the rather rocky road he has had to navigate:

In 2014 he was questioned by police after his mother accused him of breaking into her house – Daykin lived with his grandparents. No charges were ever brought and he no longer speaks to his mother.

He moved in with his grandparents when he was 13 after his parents’ relationship broke down and left school at the same time, opting for home tutoring.

However, he gave that up after six months when GripIt Fixings became his priority and to this day he does not hold any formal qualifications.

He said: ‘When I left school so many teachers told me I wasn’t going to make anything of myself. A lot of people are clever but when they get into an exam they panic.

‘Because I left school so early I’ve had that thing driven into my head that nothing’s going to handed to you on a plate, you just have to go out there and get it.’

Well played lad, you’ve inspired a few teens to drop out of school and pursue their dreams.

[source:dailymail]