When did BBC Two first broadcast the British business series Dragon's Den?

BBC Two first broadcast the British business series Dragon's Den on 4 January 2005.

The programme brought entrepreneurs into a studio to pitch businesses to a panel of wealthy investors, who became known as the Dragons. Contestants usually sought investment in return for an ownership stake, although the Dragons could also decline, negotiate different terms, or make competing offers.

Dragon's Den was adapted for British television from a Japanese format and became one of the BBC's best-known factual-entertainment programmes. Its first series established the familiar structure: a long walk into the pitch room, a timed presentation, questioning about sales and valuation, and negotiations over possible investment.

The launch date is sometimes confused with dates for later series or international versions. The British programme began in January 2005, while other countries developed their own versions under titles such as Shark Tank or Dragons' Den. The show's long run has also included several changes to its investor panel and presentation arrangements.