BBC television first broadcast the British version of Dragon's Den in 2005.
The programme premiered on BBC Two as a British adaptation of the Japanese format Money Tigers. Entrepreneurs enter a room, present their businesses and seek investment from a panel of wealthy investors, who are known collectively as Dragons.
The first British series established the show's central structure: a pitch, detailed questioning, negotiation and the possibility of a deal. The format later became one of the BBC's longest-running business programmes and inspired versions in several other countries.
The year 2005 is sometimes confused with the launch dates of international adaptations or with later changes to the programme's channel and panel. This answer refers specifically to the first UK broadcast, not to the first appearance of a particular Dragon.