Kelly Hoppen joined the Dragons' Den panel as a Dragon in 2013.
Hoppen is an English interior designer known for a design style built around clean lines, neutral colours and materials such as wood and metal. Her design career preceded her television work, and she brought experience in interiors, licensing and product development to the programme.
Her arrival added a design and lifestyle perspective to the panel. Dragons' Den regularly features businesses in consumer categories, but a product’s visual identity, packaging and presentation can be especially important in interiors and retail. Hoppen’s expertise therefore complemented the financial and commercial experience of the other investors.
The year can be confused with the arrival of other modern Dragons. Touker Suleyman joined later, in 2015, while Sara Davies joined in 2019. Kelly Hoppen’s Dragons' Den tenure began in 2013, making that the relevant year for this question.