Who was one of the five original dragons when the BBC's Dragons' Den launched in 2005?

Rachel Elnaugh was one of the five original dragons when the BBC's Dragons' Den launched in 2005.

The original British panel consisted of Rachel Elnaugh, Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Simon Woodroffe and Doug Richard. Elnaugh was known for founding Red Letter Days, a company selling experience gifts, and her entrepreneurial background made her a natural fit for the programme's investment panel.

The cast changed substantially over the years. Deborah Meaden, Theo Paphitis and other well-known business figures joined later, which is why viewers who mainly know the modern panel can mistakenly identify them as originals. Elnaugh appeared in the first two series before leaving the programme.

Her tenure also places her among the earliest female investors associated with the British show. The original panel established the contrast between different investing styles that became central to the programme: some dragons focused on financial returns, while others placed greater emphasis on the entrepreneur, brand or route to market.