On what date did the British television show Dragon's Den first air?

The British television show Dragon's Den first aired on 4 January 2005.

The BBC launched the programme as a British adaptation of the Japanese business format Money Tigers. Entrepreneurs present business ideas to wealthy investors, known as the Dragons, seeking funding in exchange for an ownership stake.

Dragon's Den became part of the BBC's factual-entertainment schedule and developed a distinctive format built around a long negotiation. Contestants must explain their product, financial figures and proposed deal before facing questions from the panel.

The date is sometimes confused with the launch dates of other international versions. The British series premiered in January 2005, while the Canadian version, Dragons' Den, began later in 2006. The programme has since become one of the UK's best-known television shows about entrepreneurship.