Welcome to Sheelark's success stories.

In each fortnightly episode, we delve into the stories behind some of the most successful entrepreneurs and careers we've seen.

In this week's inaugural episode, we're joined by Tamara Lorne, founder and CEO of Mr and Mrs. Smith.

Launched in 2003 as a hotel guide book

after she and her husband James had a disastrous mini break in the late district, 15 years

on and it has evolved into a prestigious hotel bookings website employing over 120 people.

Along the way the couple have picked up two MBs, had two children and managed a harmonious

personal and working relationship as husband and wife. A huge welcome tomorrow. a

h harmonious personal and working relationship as husband and wife. A huge welcome tomorrow.

Thank you for having me.

Maybe we'll come back to that relationship.

The harmonious bit, yes.

So tell us about your background before you started Mr. Mrs Smith.

How far back do you want me to go?

I mean?

You me and then you went to Oxford on Cambridge?

I went to Oxford, yes.

And I came out really not knowing what I wanted to do. I just knew that I wanted to travel,

but I didn't see a career in travel at all because in those days, you know, you weren't encouraged

to be entrepreneurial at all, you know, coming out of Oxford,

it was all about going into the city and making as much money as you could with the big

consultancies or finance firms.

...