Deborah Meaden became a dragon on Dragon's Den in 2006.
Meaden joined the BBC programme during its second year, replacing Rachel Elnaugh on the regular panel. She was already known as a businesswoman and investor, with experience in leisure and retail businesses, including her family’s holiday-park enterprise.
Her appearances made her one of the programme’s most recognisable investors. On the show, she is known for examining ownership percentages, sales figures, margins and the practical route to scaling a company. Her investment decisions are made in exchange for an equity stake rather than as simple loans.
Other women later joined the panel, including Kelly Hoppen, Jenny Campbell and Sara Davies. They are not the answer because Meaden’s arrival specifically dates to 2006, making her one of the programme’s longest-serving dragons.