On what date did the UK television programme Dragon's Den first premiere on BBC Two?

The UK television programme Dragon's Den first premiered on BBC Two on 4 January 2005.

The programme brought entrepreneurs into a studio to pitch businesses to a panel of wealthy investors. Contestants typically requested a specific amount of money in exchange for a stated percentage of their company.

Dragon's Den was adapted for the UK from a Japanese business reality format. Its launch helped establish the now-familiar television convention of entrepreneurs presenting products, forecasts and investment terms under intense questioning.

The premiere date is sometimes confused with the launch dates of international versions, including Canada's Dragons' Den and the United States adaptation Shark Tank. Those programmes belong to the same broader format family but began in different years.