What was the name of Dragon's Den's original presenter when the BBC series launched?

Adrian Chiles was the original presenter of Dragon's Den when the BBC series launched.

Chiles hosted the first series in 2005, introducing entrepreneurs, explaining the deal-making process and guiding viewers through the dragons' negotiations. His role was separate from that of the investors: he did not decide whether a business received funding.

He was already known to television audiences through presenting Working Lunch and later The One Show. His conversational style suited a programme that needed to explain company valuations and equity stakes without making the format feel like a formal business lecture.

Evan Davis subsequently became the programme's best-known long-term presenter, which can cause a common mix-up about who hosted the first series. Davis took over after the launch, but Chiles remains the original presenter credited with introducing the British version to viewers.