The British TV series Dragons' Den first premiered in 2005.
The programme began on BBC Two as the United Kingdom adaptation of an established Japanese business-investment format. Entrepreneurs entered the den to pitch companies, products and inventions to a panel of investors, hoping to secure money and expertise.
The launch made Dragons' Den part of the first major wave of British business reality television. Its format differs from ordinary talent contests because contestants must discuss ownership, turnover, profit, margins and valuation rather than simply perform or demonstrate a skill.
The year 2005 is sometimes confused with the dates when particular dragons joined or left. Deborah Meaden, for example, became a dragon after the original launch, while later investors such as Steven Bartlett arrived many years afterward. The premiere date identifies the beginning of the British series itself.