Which original Dragons' Den investor left the BBC series after its first series?

Simon Woodroffe was the original Dragons' Den investor who left the BBC series after its first series.

Woodroffe was already known in British business as the founder of the Yo! brand, particularly Yo! Sushi. He joined the initial investor panel when Dragons' Den launched in the UK, appearing alongside Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh and Doug Richard.

His time on the programme was brief compared with some of the show's longest-serving investors. After the first series, Woodroffe departed the regular panel and the programme continued with a changing line-up of investors.

Viewers sometimes confuse Woodroffe's departure with later panel changes. Rachel Elnaugh also left relatively early, while other investors, including Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis, became associated with subsequent series. The distinction matters because Woodroffe was part of the original five-person panel, not a later replacement.