The British television show Dragon's Den first aired in the United Kingdom in 2005.
The programme debuted on BBC Two on 4 January 2005, adapting the Japanese business format Money Tigers. Entrepreneurs present business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, seeking capital in exchange for an ownership stake in their company.
Dragon's Den became part of the BBC's factual-entertainment schedule and later moved from BBC Two to BBC One. Its title uses “dragons” for the investors, while the comparable American adaptation is known as Shark Tank.
The 2005 premiere date is sometimes confused with the arrival dates of later investors, including Deborah Meaden, who joined the British panel in 2006. The show has continued through many changing line-ups while keeping its central pitch-and-investment format.