Deborah Meaden first appeared as a dragon in series 3 of Britain's Dragon's Den.
Meaden joined the programme after its initial series and quickly became one of its most recognisable investors. Her business background includes leadership and investment experience in leisure, retail and hospitality, which shaped the practical and commercially focused questions she brought to pitches.
A frequent mix-up is placing her in series 1 because she is so closely associated with the show's identity. The original British panel included investors such as Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, Simon Woodroffe and Doug Richard. Meaden was not part of that launch lineup.
Her arrival helped establish the rotating-panel structure that became normal for Dragon's Den. Investors can leave or join between series, while the programme keeps its central format: entrepreneurs present a business, request funding and negotiate possible equity with one or more dragons.