The first episode of the UK television programme Dragons' Den was broadcast on 4 January 2005.
That premiere marked the British arrival of a format in which entrepreneurs make formal investment pitches to a panel of wealthy businesspeople. The programme was commissioned by the BBC and adapted for the UK from an established international concept. Its studio setup, direct questioning and focus on equity deals quickly became recognisable features.
The date can be confused with the start of a later series, a repeat broadcast or the debut of a spin-off. The relevant date is the first UK transmission of the main programme, not the launch date of the format in another country.
Since 2005, Dragons' Den has run through many investor-panel changes and hundreds of pitches. The premiere is nevertheless the fixed starting point for the British series, making the date a useful landmark in the show's history.