Rachel Elnaugh was the only original female Dragon in the show's first series.
The first British Dragon's Den panel consisted of five investors: Duncan Bannatyne, Peter Jones, Theo Paphitis, Rachel Elnaugh and Richard Farleigh. Elnaugh was therefore the sole woman among the original Dragons. Her presence was part of the programme's initial investor lineup when the UK series began in 2005.
Elnaugh was known for her entrepreneurial career before appearing on television. Her business experience gave her a perspective on branding, retail and company growth, all of which frequently became part of the questioning in the Den.
Deborah Meaden is a common mix-up because she later became one of the programme's most recognisable female investors. Kelly Hoppen and Sara Davies joined in later periods. The question concerns the first-series lineup, not every woman who has subsequently appeared as a Dragon.