On what date was the first episode of the BBC series Dragon's Den broadcast?

The first episode of the BBC series Dragon's Den was broadcast on 4 January 2005.

The British version began as a business reality programme in which entrepreneurs presented their ideas and companies to experienced investors. Each entrepreneur had to explain the business, state the investment sought and offer a percentage of ownership in return.

The programme was adapted for British television from a Japanese business-pitch format. Its launch introduced the term Dragon to a broad UK audience as shorthand for an investor with money, commercial experience and the power to negotiate on camera.

The 2005 premiere marked the beginning of a long-running BBC series rather than a one-off special. The panel has changed over time, but the central structure—an entrepreneur pitching in a room to several potential investors—has remained the programme's defining feature.