Deborah Meaden joined the British Dragon's Den panel in 2006 and became known for investments in leisure businesses.
Meaden is an English businesswoman and television personality. Before becoming a Dragon, she built a career in business and became associated with the family leisure company Weststar Holidays, which operated holiday parks. Her experience in tourism and leisure informed the kinds of questions she asked entrepreneurs about customers, margins and operational growth.
She joined the programme after its first series and became one of its most recognisable long-term investors. Her arrival changed the panel without replacing Peter Jones, who had been present from the launch.
Meaden's name is sometimes confused with later female Dragons such as Kelly Hoppen, Jenny Campbell and Sara Davies. Those investors joined at different points and had different business backgrounds.