Dragons' Den
"It's make or break time."
A BBC One Original
Five aspiring entrepreneurs stride into the studio, armed with a plan and a dream, and have three minutes to pitch it to a panel of five self made investors. They must clearly explain the product or service, the target market, and how it will turn a profit, as well as how much funding they’re... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: January 30, 2026
About Dragons' Den
Five aspiring entrepreneurs stride into the studio, armed with a plan and a dream, and have three minutes to pitch it to a panel of five self made investors. They must clearly explain the product or service, the target market, and how it will turn a profit, as well as how much funding they’re seeking and what it will buy them. After the pitch, the Dragons press with pointed questions about the business model, costs, competition, and growth strategy, testing the pitch’s polish and the founder’s resolve. If the panel signals interest, negotiations take over and terms are hammered out on the spot. Even without a deal, the moment captures the risk and ambition behind turning ideas into real businesses.
Released in 2005, this UK version was directed by Michael Postlethwaite and is built on the Dragon's Den format that originated in Japan. The show features host Evan Davis and a panel of Dragons including Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden.
Across its run the series drew attention from television award bodies, earning nominations and wins that recognized its blend of real world funding pressure and accessible storytelling. The format has been cited as a model for entrepreneurial programming and inspired formats around the globe, influencing how networks conceive competition.
Dragons' Den helped demystify venture funding and turn pitching into a shared social event. The show fed a cultural appetite for start ups and risk taking, with iconic moments and crowd reactions echoing in offices and living rooms as viewers debated which ideas were worth backing and who deserved backing.
Critics have noted a mix of brisk business sense and human drama, with themes that revolve around risk versus reward, due diligence, and the balance between idealism and practicality. The show stays relevant by spotlighting the costs behind turning a pitch into a company, inviting conversations after the credits roll.
Details
- Release Date
- January 04, 2005
- Episode Length
- 1h
- Rating
- TV-PG
- User Ratings
- 31 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 23
- Episodes
- 273
- Network
- BBC One, BBC Two
- Status
- Returning Series
- Genres
- Reality
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Studio
- BBC Studios +2 more
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Touker Suleyman
Dragon
Peter Jones
Dragon
Deborah Meaden
Dragon
Evan Davis
Presenter
Steven Bartlett
Dragon
Director: Michael Postlethwaite
Seasons (23 seasons, 273 episodes)
Season 1
7 episodes - 2005
Season 2
8 episodes - 2005
Season 3
10 episodes - 2006
Season 4
10 episodes - 2007
Season 5
10 episodes - 2007
Season 6
13 episodes - 2008
Season 7
12 episodes - 2009
Season 8
10 episodes - 2010
Season 9
10 episodes - 2011
Season 10
12 episodes - 2012
Season 11
12 episodes - 2013
Season 12
12 episodes - 2014
Season 13
16 episodes - 2015
Season 14
16 episodes - 2016
Series 15
14 episodes - 2017
Season 16
15 episodes - 2018
Season 17
14 episodes - 2019
Series 18
14 episodes - 2021
Series 19
14 episodes - 2022
Series 20
14 episodes - 2023
Series 21
14 episodes - 2024
Series 22
14 episodes - 2025
Series 23
3 episodes - 2026
