The BBC first broadcast Dragons' Den in the United Kingdom in 2005.
The British version premiered on BBC Two on 4 January 2005, adapting the investment-pitch format for a UK audience. Entrepreneurs present businesses to a panel of wealthy investors, known as Dragons, and ask for money in exchange for an ownership stake.
The programme quickly became a prominent British business series. Its title uses the plural possessive “Dragons'” because several investors share the den, a detail sometimes written incorrectly as “Dragon's Den.” The show is also distinct from the many international programmes using the same format, including the American Shark Tank.
The first series established the core structure still associated with the programme: a presentation, questioning about sales and valuation, negotiation, and the possibility that a Dragon may make an offer. Broadcast dates can differ internationally, but 2005 identifies the launch of the British edition.