Which businesswoman joined the British Dragon's Den panel in 2006?

Deborah Meaden joined the British Dragon's Den panel in 2006.

Meaden entered the programme after the first series, becoming one of its most recognisable long-term investors. Before television, she built a career in business and became associated with consumer, leisure and hospitality investments.

Her arrival followed the departure of Rachel Elnaugh from the original regular line-up. This is why the two names are sometimes confused when people recall the early female Dragons: Elnaugh was an original investor, while Meaden joined during the show's second series.

On the programme, Meaden evaluates businesses through questions about margins, ownership, sales and growth. Like the other Dragons, she can make an offer alone or negotiate alongside another investor, but a pitch shown on television is not automatically a completed investment.