The British television series Dragons' Den first aired in 2005.
The BBC launched the programme on 4 January 2005. It adapts a format in which entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors, known as dragons, who may offer money in exchange for an ownership stake.
The series belongs to an international television format that began in Japan. Its British version quickly became associated with direct questioning about sales, costs, valuation and profit. A common mix-up is to confuse its launch date with the debut of the Canadian version, which began in 2006.
The programme has continued through many changes in its investor panel and presentation style. However, 2005 remains the fixed starting point for the British edition and is the date generally used when tracing the show's history.