Evan Davis presented the first series of the BBC business programme Dragons' Den.
Davis was the original British presenter of the format, guiding entrepreneurs through their pitches and the Dragons' questioning. He was already known to BBC audiences as an economics journalist and presenter before joining the programme.
The presenter’s role is separate from that of the Dragons. The presenter introduces each business, manages the pitch sequence and helps viewers follow the negotiation, while the Dragons decide whether to invest. This distinction can cause confusion because the programme’s investors are much more visible during each pitch.
Davis later became strongly associated with BBC news and current-affairs broadcasting, including presenting Newsnight. Dragons' Den subsequently had different presenters, but its central structure remained the same: entrepreneurs seek investment by offering a share of their company.