Deborah Meaden became a Dragon's Den investor in 2006.
Meaden joined the BBC programme during its third series, replacing Rachel Elnaugh on the investor panel. She brought experience from the leisure and holiday businesses, particularly through her work with family-owned enterprises and her later investment activities.
Her direct questioning, emphasis on sales and margins, and willingness to make investments made her one of the programme's defining dragons. She remained a regular investor for many years, appearing alongside several different generations of the panel.
The date can be confused with the programme's launch in 2005, when Elnaugh was the first female dragon. Meaden did not originate with the first panel, but her long tenure made her one of the most recognisable figures associated with the British series.