Which Dragon's Den investor made her debut in the show's third UK series?

Deborah Meaden made her Dragon's Den debut in the third UK series.

Meaden joined the BBC programme in 2006, replacing Rachel Elnaugh on the panel. She had already built a business career through family entertainment and leisure ventures, including work connected with the Weststar Holidays group. Her direct questioning and emphasis on commercial fundamentals quickly made her one of the show's defining investors.

The timing is important because Rachel Elnaugh was the original female dragon, appearing in the first two series. Meaden therefore was not the first woman on the panel, but she became the longest-running and most recognisable female investor in the programme's early history.

Meaden has continued to invest in businesses presented on the show and has also appeared in other television and radio programmes. Her tenure is often used as a landmark when viewers describe the modern Dragon's Den panel.