The British television series Dragons' Den premiered in 2005. BBC Two first broadcast the UK adaptation on 4 January 2005, introducing entrepreneurs who pitch for investment to a panel of wealthy business people called Dragons.
The programme is adapted from the Japanese format Money Tigers and became one of the BBC's long-running factual-entertainment shows. Its early panel included Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, Simon Woodroffe and Doug Richard.
The title is sometimes confused with the American series Shark Tank, which is a separate adaptation of the same broad international format. Dragons' Den remains specifically associated with the British panel, British businesses and negotiations in pounds sterling.
Later seasons changed the panel and production details, but the 2005 premiere date remains the starting point for the UK version.