Deborah Meaden became a Dragon on the British television programme Dragon's Den in 2006.
Meaden joined the panel during the programme's early years and became one of its most recognisable investors. Her business background includes leisure, retail and property, and she is known for focusing closely on a company's figures, ownership and route to growth.
Her arrival expanded the panel beyond the original launch lineup and gave the programme a Dragon with substantial experience in consumer and leisure businesses. She remained a prominent regular investor in later series.
The year 2006 is sometimes confused with the show's launch year, which was 2005. Meaden was not part of the very first panel, but joined soon afterward and became closely identified with the programme.