The first UK series of Dragons' Den began broadcasting in 2005.
The British version premiered in 2005 after the international format had originated in Japan. Its launch introduced UK viewers to entrepreneurs negotiating directly with a panel of potential investors, an approach that quickly became a recognisable part of BBC factual entertainment.
The year is sometimes confused with dates connected to later series, changes in the Dragon line-up or the launch of overseas adaptations. Those are separate milestones. The question concerns the beginning of the British programme itself, not the date when a particular investor joined or left.
Since its debut, Dragons' Den has continued through numerous series and has developed a large archive of pitches. The original premise has remained stable: founders present a business, request investment and offer an ownership share in return.