BBC Two first broadcast the UK television series Dragons' Den in 2005.
The programme premiered on 4 January 2005, bringing the Japanese business-format concept to British television. Entrepreneurs presented business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, who could offer money in exchange for an ownership stake.
The first series featured Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, Simon Woodroffe and Doug Richard. Adrian Chiles presented the opening series, before Evan Davis later became the programme's best-known presenter.
The show is often confused with the similarly formatted BBC series The Apprentice, but the two programmes have different premises. Dragons' Den centres on entrepreneurs seeking investment, while The Apprentice focuses on candidates competing in business tasks for employment. Dragons' Den subsequently became one of the BBC's long-running factual-entertainment programmes and inspired local versions in several countries.