Inventor who was laughed off Dragons Den set to make a million

The panel of business experts all laughed on BBC2's Dragons' Den when inventor Andrew Gordon unveiled his plastic device for propping up table legs.

One even sneered : "What are beermats for?" His invention, which has eight plastic leaves pinned together, was dubbed "the most ridiculous idea" ever seen on the show.

But the 31-year-old entrepreneur has had the last laugh.

He is well on the way to making his first million with his wacky idea.

Sales of his "STABLEtable" device to stop tables wobbling have soared past £500,000 and his client list now includes Kensington Palace.

After winning an order this month from the Exam Officers' Association for 200,000, he has begun winning orders overseas.

He has already secured more than 10,000 sales of his "wobble-stopper" in Australia.

Andrew, originally from Linlithgow, Scotland and now living in Camberley, Surrey, said : "I came up with the idea over a few pints of Guinness with a friend when we saw tables propped up with napkins.

"I started getting bits of cardboard from cereal packets and seeing which shapes and thickness worked best.

"I then got a company in China to manufacture them.

"But after the show it really took off and I had about a million hits on the website. It is amazing. It just snowballed. Even Kensington Palace bought some for their tea-rooms."

Panellist Deborah Meaden on the programme two years ago called it the most ridiculous idea she had heard of.

"They absolutely ripped me to shreds," he said. "It is quite remarkable to see how it has taken off so quickly.

"No money has been spent on advertising or anything like that. It's all just word of mouth. I'm pleased I have proved the dragons wrong."

A BBC2 spokesman said : "Our dragons make their own business decisions.

"Even though they didn't back Andrew, it is great he has stuck to his conviction about this product.

"Hopefully, this will encourage other inventors and entrepreneurs."

The STABLEtables retail online for one-pound each and Andrew is in talks with Tesco, Ikea and B&Q to get his product onto the high street.

Visitors to his website discover his invention aims to make "wobbly items a thing of the past."

They are told : "Whether it's a desk, dining table, washing machine, bookcase or even garden furniture, STABLEtable is a unique and effective solution for all wobbly items."