The BBC's UK series Dragon's Den first introduced female dragon Rachel Elnaugh in 2005.
Rachel Elnaugh was one of the original investors when the British programme launched. She had founded Red Letter Days, a company selling experience gifts, and brought a consumer-business perspective to the panel. Her appearance meant that the first series included a female investor alongside the original male dragons.
This question asks for the year of the UK programme's launch and Elnaugh's first appearance, rather than the year another female dragon joined later. Deborah Meaden became a dragon in a subsequent series, so the two milestones are often confused. The programme's panel has changed many times, making the chronology important.
Elnaugh's business career also illustrates why the show selected investors from different sectors. Experience gifts were a developing retail category, and her company had achieved significant public recognition before her television appearance. The year 2005 therefore marks both the beginning of the UK format and her arrival as a dragon.