The first episode of the UK television series Dragon's Den was broadcast in 2005.
The programme launched on BBC Two and adapted the Japanese format Money Tigers. Entrepreneurs present business proposals to a panel of wealthy investors, hoping to secure funding in exchange for an ownership stake.
Dragon's Den became part of a wider international franchise, with versions produced in countries including Canada, Australia and Ireland. Its British format is closely associated with the use of the word “dragons” for the investors, while the US adaptation uses “sharks”.
The programme’s debut is sometimes confused with the arrival of individual investors or presenters in later series. The series began with a different lineup and presenter from some of its best-known later years, so the 2005 date refers to the UK programme itself, not a particular Dragon’s first appearance.