On what date was the first episode of BBC television show Dragons' Den broadcast?

The first episode of BBC television show Dragons' Den was broadcast on 4 January 2005.

The British programme is an adaptation of the Japanese business format Money Tigers. Entrepreneurs present business ideas to wealthy investors, known as dragons, and seek investment in exchange for equity.

The launch formed part of the BBC's expansion of factual entertainment programming. The show initially aired on BBC Two before becoming one of the corporation's best-known business programmes. Its panel has changed repeatedly, but the central pitch-and-negotiation format has remained stable.

The broadcast date is sometimes confused with the year the programme was commissioned or with the start dates of later series. The first British episode itself appeared in January 2005, establishing the format that later inspired international versions.