Which entrepreneur joined the Dragon's Den panel in series 3, replacing Rachel Elnaugh?

Deborah Meaden joined the Dragon's Den panel in series 3, replacing Rachel Elnaugh.

Meaden is an English businesswoman and investor. She became one of the programme's best-known dragons after joining the British series in 2006. Her background includes running and investing in businesses in sectors such as leisure, retail and tourism, which shaped the practical, commercially focused approach she brought to pitches.

Rachel Elnaugh was one of the original investors when Dragon's Den launched in 2005. Her departure created a vacancy on the panel, and Meaden became the replacement in the third series. This timing is an important distinction because Meaden is often remembered as part of the show's classic early lineup, even though she was not an original-series dragon.

Later additions included other prominent investors such as Kelly Hoppen, Sara Davies and Jenny Campbell. They cannot be the answer because they joined during subsequent panel changes. The specific replacement relationship—Meaden for Elnaugh in series 3—identifies Deborah Meaden unambiguously.