Which Dragon was the first woman to join the BBC television programme Dragon's Den?

Rachel Elnaugh was the first woman to join the BBC television programme Dragon's Den.

Elnaugh joined the original investor panel for the British series and became notable as its first female Dragon. Before appearing on television, she founded Red Letter Days, a company selling experience gifts such as leisure and entertainment packages.

Her appointment helped establish that the panel would draw on different kinds of entrepreneurial experience rather than solely on one traditional business background. Elnaugh’s time on the programme was relatively early, which can make her easy to overlook when viewers think of later female Dragons.

Deborah Meaden was not the first woman on the show, although she became the best-known long-serving female Dragon after joining in series three. Kelly Hoppen and Sara Davies arrived later still. The distinction is therefore historical: Elnaugh was the first female investor to sit on the British Dragon's Den panel.