MHI Executive Chairman Jack Irvine Features in BBC Documentary on Michelle Mone’s Rise and Fall

Media House International Executive Chairman Jack Irvine appears in a new two-part BBC documentary examining the extraordinary rise and ongoing controversy surrounding Baroness Michelle Mone of Mayfair.

The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone, produced by Rogan Scotland for BBC Two, BBC Scotland, and iPlayer, traces Mone’s transformation from a working-class upbringing in Glasgow’s East End to her position as a high-profile entrepreneur and member of the House of Lords.

The first episode, Rise, recounts her early life and breakthrough in business. After leaving school at 15 with no qualifications, Mone worked in a fruit shop, became a model, and eventually founded the lingerie company MJM International. With the launch of Ultimo, a new push-up bra, she capitalised on the 1990s obsession with celebrity and glamour to build a successful brand, securing major retail deals and generating widespread publicity.

Jack Irvine, a leading UK and international PR strategist and former newspaper editor, is among the contributors featured in the documentary.

Irvine introduced Mone to Scottish entrepreneur and multi-millionaire Sir Tom Hunter, who became her first major investor. Sir Tom insisted that Media House handle Ultimo’s PR, and in the early months, the agency played a key role in building the brand’s public profile.

As revealed in the documentary, Irvine ultimately dropped Mone as a client, stating that “she had a strange relationship with the truth.” His insights in the programme provide a unique perspective on her early media strategy and approach to branding.

The second episode focuses on Mone’s later career, including her appointment to the House of Lords and her involvement in a PPE procurement controversy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Irvine reveals he was regularly contacted by incredulous Conservative peers questioning Mone’s character and suitability for a peerage. Based on her past erratic behaviour, he warned that it would “all end in tears.” Despite repeated briefings from Irvine to vetting experts, it became apparent that several senior Conservative politicians in the Commons were captivated by Mone’s physical appearance and chose to override the Lords vetting committee’s concerns.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) launched an investigation into PPE Medpro, a company linked to Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman. Several of the couple’s properties were raided as part of the inquiry.

Mone, known for her outspoken media presence in the past, remained largely silent as the investigation progressed. However, at the end of 2023, she re-emerged publicly alongside Barrowman in a PPE Medpro-funded documentary, where she admitted to acting as a “conduit” between the company and government ministers. The couple also appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, where Mone acknowledged she could potentially benefit from the trust and stated they had done nothing wrong.

When questioned about having previously denied involvement with PPE Medpro to the press, Mone said: “That’s not a crime. Saying to the press I’m not involved, to protect my family… can I just make it clear, it’s not a crime.”

The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone offers a comprehensive look at one of the most controversial figures in recent British public life. Jack Irvine’s contribution helps illuminate the early trajectory of Mone’s business career and the media strategy that helped build her brand.

The series is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Our People: Jack Irvine | Executive Chairman | Biography

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