Who presented Dragon's Den in the UK from its first series until 2013?

Evan Davis presented the UK version of Dragon's Den from its first series until 2013.

Davis was the programme's original presenter when it began in 2005. He introduced entrepreneurs, explained the investment terms and provided context around the deals being discussed, while the Dragons conducted the negotiations themselves.

His role was different from that of the investors. The presenter did not normally decide whether a business deserved funding; instead, he guided viewers through each pitch and the Dragons' responses. This distinction is a common source of confusion for viewers who associate the presenter closely with the show.

Davis later became especially associated with BBC current-affairs and political broadcasting, including presenting Newsnight. After his Dragon's Den tenure, the programme continued with other presenters, but his long run covers the show's formative period and its establishment as a major British television format.