Five investors, known as Dragons, usually sit on the main British Dragon's Den panel.
The show's standard setup places five potential investors in front of each entrepreneur. Each Dragon can question the founder and decide whether to make an offer. Entrepreneurs may receive competing offers, negotiate with several Dragons, or leave without an investment.
The exact individuals on the panel have changed repeatedly over the programme's history, but the five-seat arrangement is the familiar standard. Special episodes, guest investors and occasional absences can make the lineup look different, which is why people sometimes remember a smaller or changing group. The number five describes the usual main panel format, not a permanent list of five named investors.