The first episode of the British television series Dragons' Den premiered on 4 January 2005.
The programme launched on BBC Two as the British adaptation of a Japanese business-pitch format. Entrepreneurs enter the Den and present their companies to a panel of wealthy investors, asking for money in exchange for an ownership stake.
The premiere established the show's central structure: a pitch, questioning from the investors, and negotiations over valuation and equity. The British series became one of the best-known versions of the format, later appearing in many countries under local titles.
The date is sometimes confused with the year the format was created or with the premiere dates of overseas adaptations. The British programme itself began broadcasting in January 2005.