Five investors formed the original panel of Dragons in the first series of the BBC's Dragon's Den.
The inaugural panel consisted of Duncan Bannatyne, Peter Jones, Rachel Elnaugh, Simon Woodroffe and Doug Richard. They represented different business backgrounds, including retail, technology, hospitality and consumer products.
The term “Dragon” is the programme's name for an investor, not a reference to a fictional creature. Entrepreneurs face the panel together, although the investors can make individual offers or join forces on a deal.
Later series changed the line-up as investors left and new Dragons joined. Deborah Meaden became a regular Dragon in the third series, while other notable investors included Theo Paphitis, James Caan, Kelly Hoppen and Nick Jenkins.