Deborah Meaden first appeared as a Dragon on the BBC series Dragon's Den in 2006.
Meaden joined the programme in its third series, following the first two series of the British adaptation. She brought experience as a businesswoman and investor, particularly in leisure, tourism and consumer businesses. Her direct style and emphasis on financial detail quickly made her one of the programme's most recognisable investors.
Her arrival was part of the normal evolution of the panel. Dragon's Den does not keep exactly the same investors throughout its history: Dragons leave, return or are replaced, while the programme preserves the core pitching and negotiation format. Meaden's tenure became one of the longest and most visible in the show's history.
The year can be confused with 2005, the launch year of the British series, or with later years when other well-known Dragons joined. The relevant distinction is that Meaden was not part of the first series' original panel. She entered in 2006, during the programme's third series, and became a continuing figure in the BBC version.