On what date did the first episode of the UK television series Dragons' Den air?

The first episode of the UK television series Dragons' Den aired on 4 January 2005.

The programme launched as a BBC business format in which entrepreneurs presented their companies and investment requests to a panel of wealthy businesspeople. Its early episodes established the now-familiar pattern of a presentation, detailed questioning and offers involving shares in the business.

The 2005 debut is sometimes confused with later milestones, such as the arrival of individual Dragons or the launch of overseas versions. Those events happened in different years. The premiere date refers specifically to the first UK broadcast, not to the creation of the Japanese format on which the show was based.

Dragons' Den subsequently became a long-running BBC series with changing presenters, entrepreneurs and investor panels. Its original broadcast date is therefore a useful fixed point when separating the show’s launch from later additions to the franchise.