Which entrepreneur replaced Rachel Elnaugh as a Dragon on the UK series in 2006?

Deborah Meaden replaced Rachel Elnaugh as a Dragon on the UK series in 2006.

Meaden joined Dragon's Den for its third series, which followed the programme's initial run with Rachel Elnaugh on the panel. Her arrival added another prominent business investor to the BBC format and began one of the show's most enduring on-screen associations.

Meaden is a British businesswoman whose background includes family businesses, leisure, and investment. On the programme, she evaluates entrepreneurs' proposals, questions their financial assumptions, and decides whether the equity offered justifies an investment. Her direct negotiating style became a recognisable part of the series.

The date can cause confusion because the show began in 2005, while Meaden's regular participation started later. She did not replace every original Dragon; she specifically took over Elnaugh's place. Kelly Hoppen and other later investors are also associated with the programme, but they joined in different periods and are not the answer to this particular line-up change.