Deborah Meaden joined the British show Dragons' Den as an investor in series 2.
She became one of the programme’s best-known Dragons, bringing experience from businesses including leisure, tourism and retail. Her direct questioning and focus on commercial fundamentals became a distinctive part of the programme’s later identity.
Meaden entered after the first series, so she was not part of the original launch panel. Her arrival is often remembered alongside changes in the investor lineup as the BBC developed the format beyond its debut season.
The series number can be confused with the year of broadcast because the programme has had annual runs, breaks and changing production schedules. Series 2 is the relevant answer for her entry into the British version, rather than the date she became prominent in business media generally.