Evan Davis was the first permanent presenter of the British series Dragons' Den.
Davis hosted the programme from its launch in 2005, guiding entrepreneurs into the den and explaining the stakes of each pitch. His role was primarily that of presenter and interviewer rather than investor; the Dragons themselves decided whether to offer money and business expertise.
Before becoming closely associated with the BBC’s business coverage, Davis had worked as an economics correspondent and presenter. His calm questioning style suited a programme built around negotiations, valuation, and commercial pressure.
The presenting role later passed to other broadcasters, including Sarah Beeny and then Evan Davis’s successor, but Davis remains strongly identified with the show’s early BBC era. The investor panel has changed many times, so the presenter and the Dragons should not be confused: Davis never occupied one of the five investor chairs in the original format.