The first episode of the British television programme Dragons' Den was broadcast in 2005.
The BBC version began on BBC Two on 4 January 2005. It adapted the Japanese business reality format Money Tigers, known in Japan as Money no Tora. Entrepreneurs present business proposals to a panel of wealthy investors, called Dragons, who may offer money in exchange for equity.
The programme is sometimes confused with the similarly formatted Shark Tank, the United States adaptation. Dragons' Den is the British title and has also inspired or accompanied versions in several other countries. The show’s core structure has remained recognizable since its launch: a business pitch, questioning from the panel, and negotiation over valuation and ownership.
The year 2005 refers to the British series’ debut, not the creation of the international format. Money Tigers had already premiered in Japan in 2001, and the wider format was later licensed for other territories.