In the British TV show Dragons' Den, on what date did the first episode premiere?

The first episode of the British TV show Dragons' Den premiered on 4 January 2005.

The BBC launched the British version after adapting the format from Japan's Money Tigers. The programme gives entrepreneurs a short presentation opportunity before a panel of investors, who decide whether to offer money in exchange for equity.

The first series established the show's recognisable structure: entrepreneurs enter the studio, make a pitch, answer questions and negotiate with the investors. The programme quickly became a regular BBC business-entertainment format rather than a one-off experiment.

The premiere date is sometimes confused with the year the series was commissioned or with dates for later series. It is also separate from the launch dates of international adaptations, including versions made in Canada, Australia and the United States.