Deborah Meaden joined the Dragon's Den panel in the third UK series after Rachel Elnaugh left.
Meaden entered the programme in 2006, becoming one of its most recognisable investors. Before appearing on television, she had built experience in family business and leisure, including work connected with the Weststar Holidays group.
Her arrival changed the composition of the panel while preserving the programme's original pitch-and-negotiate structure. Meaden is associated with investments in consumer products, retail, leisure and service businesses, and she frequently focuses on whether a founder understands the numbers behind the idea.
Several later female dragons can be confused with Meaden, including Kelly Hoppen, Sarah Willingham, Jenny Campbell and Sara Davies. They joined at different points. Meaden is specifically the investor who replaced Elnaugh in the third series, not a member of the original 2005 panel.