The first episode of the British TV show Dragons' Den aired in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2005.
The BBC Two programme adapted the Japanese format Money Tigers, in which entrepreneurs present business proposals to wealthy investors. In Britain, those investors became known as Dragons, and contestants sought financial backing in exchange for equity in their companies.
The original presenting team included presenter Evan Davis, while the first panel featured Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Doug Richard, Rachel Elnaugh and Simon Woodroffe. The series quickly became known for direct negotiations, valuation disputes and memorable business pitches.
The 2005 launch is sometimes confused with the programme's later move to BBC One, but the series began on BBC Two. The format has since inspired international versions and several related programmes, while the British edition has continued through numerous changes to its investor panel.