Deborah Meaden first appeared as a Dragon on the UK show Dragon's Den in 2006.
She joined the investor panel for the programme's third series, following the first two series of the British adaptation. Meaden brought experience from family businesses, leisure operations and commercial investment, and she became one of the programme's most recognisable long-term investors.
Her arrival followed the original series featuring investors such as Rachel Elnaugh, Simon Woodroffe, Doug Richard, Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne. The panel has changed repeatedly over the years, but Meaden remained a central figure for many series.
The date is sometimes confused with the programme's launch year. Dragon's Den began in Britain in 2005, whereas Meaden's first appearance came the following year.