Deborah Meaden first joined the regular Dragons' Den panel in 2006.
Meaden is an English businesswoman and investor who became one of the programme's best-known Dragons. She joined after the first series, expanding the panel of investors who evaluate entrepreneurs seeking capital for their businesses.
Her commercial background includes work in family businesses, leisure and hospitality. Before her television role, she had already developed substantial experience in managing and investing in companies, which shaped the direct questioning and deal-making style associated with her appearances.
The year 2006 is sometimes confused with the programme's launch year, 2005. Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, Theo Paphitis and Simon Woodroffe formed the original panel; Meaden joined the series later.