Deborah Meaden first appeared as a regular investor in series 3 of the UK Dragon's Den.
Meaden joined the panel after the programme's initial investor line-up had already been established. Her arrival added another prominent entrepreneur to the show's group of potential backers and began a long-running association with the series.
She is a businesswoman known for investments and work in leisure, retail and consumer-facing companies. In the den, she became recognized for questioning entrepreneurs about ownership percentages, profitability, cash flow and the practical value of a proposed deal.
Series numbers can be confusing because the programme has had many returning and guest investors, while some broadcasters and streaming listings display episodes differently. The relevant milestone is Meaden's first regular appearance in the UK programme's third series, not the year of a later individual investment.