On what date did the BBC series Dragon's Den first premiere in the United Kingdom?

The BBC series Dragon's Den first premiered in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2005.

The programme brought entrepreneurs before a panel of wealthy investors, known as Dragons, who decided whether to offer money in exchange for a stake in a business. Its launch established the British version of a format that had already appeared in Japan.

The date is sometimes confused with the year the programme was commissioned or with the dates of later series. Dragon's Den has continued for many years, so individual investor arrivals and departures belong to different periods. The British programme is also distinct from similarly titled versions made in other countries.

Its long run made the 2005 premiere an important milestone in British factual entertainment. The show has since become associated with negotiation, business valuation and memorable product pitches.