2006 marked Deborah Meaden's first appearance as a Dragon on the BBC series Dragon's Den.
Meaden joined the programme in its third series, following the show's launch in 2005. She became one of its longest-serving and most recognisable investors, known for examining sales figures, margins and the practical route to scaling a company.
Before television, Meaden built a career in business and investment. She became involved in the family holiday business and later took control of Weststar Holidays, which operated holiday parks. Her commercial background shaped the straightforward negotiating style she brought to pitches.
The year is occasionally misreported as 2005 because Meaden is so strongly associated with the programme's early identity. She was not part of the launch panel, however. Her Dragon's Den debut came the following year, in series 3, and she continued as a regular investor for many subsequent series.