Dragons' Den first aired on BBC Two in 2005.
The British version launched on 4 January 2005, adapting the Japanese business reality format Money Tigers. Entrepreneurs entered a studio and presented their companies to wealthy investors, hoping to secure funding in exchange for equity.
BBC Two became associated with the programme during its early years, while later episodes were also made available through BBC digital services and streaming platforms. The show’s title uses the plural possessive form “Dragons' Den,” reflecting the group of investors rather than one individual dragon.
The programme is sometimes confused with Shark Tank, the American adaptation of the same broad format. Shark Tank is associated with ABC, whereas the British series is a BBC production. The UK show has also inspired versions in many other countries, each using local investors and business regulations.