Who was the original presenter of the BBC series Dragon's Den?

Evan Davis was the original presenter of the BBC series Dragon's Den.

Davis hosted the programme when it began in 2005, guiding viewers through the entrepreneurs' pitches and explaining the financial terms under discussion. His role was mainly that of a presenter and interpreter; he was not one of the investors sitting in the Dragons' chairs.

The presenter helps provide context around each pitch, including the entrepreneur's requested investment, the offered equity and the eventual outcome. This makes the programme easier to follow when negotiations involve valuation, licensing, distribution or manufacturing arrangements.

Evan Davis is also strongly associated with BBC business and current-affairs broadcasting. He later presented Newsnight and Radio 4's PM. The programme's presenting history is distinct from its investor history: several Dragons have changed over time, while the host does not normally participate in the negotiations. A common mistake is therefore to identify a Dragon, such as Peter Jones or Duncan Bannatyne, as the show's presenter.