Deborah Meaden replaced Rachel Elnaugh as a regular investor on UK Dragon's Den in 2006.
Meaden is an English businesswoman and investor who became one of the programme’s most recognisable dragons. Before and alongside her television work, she was associated with businesses in leisure, retail and property, experience that shaped her questioning of entrepreneurs’ finances and growth plans.
Rachel Elnaugh was part of the original regular panel, but she departed after the early series. Meaden then joined the programme, creating a change in the panel that viewers sometimes date incorrectly to the show’s first year.
Meaden’s arrival should not be confused with later additions such as Kelly Hoppen, Sara Davies or other guest investors. The relevant change occurred in 2006, after the British series had launched in 2005.