The first episode of the BBC programme Dragons' Den aired in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2005.
The British version launched on BBC Two as an adaptation of a Japanese business-investment format. Entrepreneurs enter the studio, present their companies to wealthy investors, and seek funding in exchange for an ownership share.
The programme quickly became known for its direct questioning, negotiations and dramatic offers. The investors are called “dragons” in the British edition, while comparable versions in other countries use different names, including “sharks” in the United States.
The launch date is sometimes confused with the year the format first appeared internationally. The concept originated in Japan before the British series began, so 2005 identifies the UK programme’s debut rather than the format’s original creation.