Deborah Meaden joined the Dragon's Den panel in series 3, replacing Rachel Elnaugh.
Meaden became one of the programme's best-known investors, bringing experience from businesses including family leisure resorts and Weststar Holidays. Her direct questioning and willingness to negotiate made her a prominent figure in the show's long-running cast.
Rachel Elnaugh was part of the original panel but departed after the second series. Meaden's arrival therefore marked an early change to the line-up, not the programme's original launch cast. She has remained associated with the British version for many years.
Meaden is sometimes confused with Kelly Hoppen, another investor who joined later. They were both women on the panel, but Meaden entered the programme considerably earlier.