In Dragon's Den, the show's investor panel is commonly called the Dragons.
The name comes from the programme's title and describes the experienced businesspeople who question entrepreneurs about sales, costs, ownership and growth. Each entrepreneur enters the den seeking money, usually in exchange for a percentage of the business.
The panel has changed repeatedly since the British series began. Members have included Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis, Kelly Hoppen and Touker Suleyman. Because the line-up changes, “the Dragons” is the stable collective term rather than the name of a fixed group.
Viewers sometimes confuse the panel with a company board or a jury. It is neither: the Dragons are individual private investors, and any deal depends on negotiation and due diligence after the televised pitch. A Dragon can also withdraw later if the proposed investment does not survive that process.