Manchester became the production base for Dragons' Den after filming moved from London.
The programme was initially produced in London, including filming connected with the BBC's Television Centre. Production later moved north to Manchester, reflecting the BBC's broader relocation and regional-production strategy. The move placed the show within the BBC's expanding production presence in the city.
This location is separate from the fictional or symbolic idea of a dragon's den. The entrepreneurs still pitch in a purpose-built studio set, but the production base identifies where the programme is made rather than where contestants' businesses are located.
Manchester is also easy to confuse with other major northern television-production centres. The BBC has produced many programmes in cities including Salford, Leeds and Liverpool, while Manchester has a long history of television, media and creative industries. For Dragons' Den, however, the relevant production move was to Manchester, not to one of those neighbouring cities.