The original Dragon's Den panel contained five investors.
The first British series launched on BBC Two in 2005 with Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, Doug Richard and Simon Woodroffe. Contestants presented business ideas to this group and sought investment in exchange for equity. The programme’s central format was already established internationally, but the British version gave the investors the nickname “dragons.”
Panel membership changed over time. Rachel Elnaugh, Doug Richard and Simon Woodroffe did not remain permanent investors, while later series introduced figures including Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis, James Caan and Kelly Hoppen. This means the original panel should not be confused with the most familiar later line-ups.
The show is the British adaptation of the Japanese format Money Tigers and later inspired related versions such as the United States programme Shark Tank.