The first UK episode of Dragon's Den premiered in 2005.
The BBC launched the British version as an adaptation of the international Dragons' Den format, in which entrepreneurs present businesses to wealthy investors and seek funding in exchange for equity. The programme quickly became a prominent part of BBC factual entertainment.
The British series was first broadcast on BBC Two. Its format is based on the Japanese programme Money Tigers, which began in 2001, and the concept was subsequently adapted in many countries. The title refers to the intimidating group of investors, known as dragons in the UK version.
A common mix-up is confusing the British premiere with the launch of another national edition. The Canadian version, for example, began in 2006, while the original Japanese programme predates the UK series. Dragon's Den has since run for many series and produced several well-known business success stories.