Dragons' Den

Dragons' Den is a British reality television business programme, presented by Evan Davis and based upon the original Japanese series. The show allows several entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their varying business ideas to a panel of five wealthy investors, the "Dragons" of the show's title, and pitch for financial investment while offering a stake of the company in return. The first episode was broadcast on BBC Two on 4 January 2005. After 16 series on the channel, the show has been broadcast on BBC One since 2021. Reruns of previous episodes are still broadcast on BBC Two. The programme is produced by BBC Studios Factual Entertainment Productions and co-produced with Sony Pictures Television International, the owners of the format that is distributed worldwide. Programme Format Applicants can apply to appear on the show through the BBC website, however they may also be directly approached to appear. The final selection is based on the strength of idea, a robust business plan and projected turnover. Selected candidates will have what they believe to be a viable and profitable business idea or already operational business, but lack start-up funding, funds for promotion or expansion. Strict rules apply that they have had no prior contact with the current panel of dragons and will sign a non-disclosure agreement, prohibiting them from publicly discussing the details of their time on the show until it has been broadcast. Between series 1–11, up to 10 pitches were broadcast in each episode, with 4 individual pitches lasting around 10 minutes each, a mixture of successful, rejected and failed, and up to 6 failed pitches being shortened to a combined total of less than 2 minutes appearing between each. From series 12 onwards, 4 main pitches are broadcast lasting between 10 and 20 minutes, with 1-2 failed pitches occasionally featured in-between, lasting around 3–5 minutes. A BBC spokesman has stated that entrepreneurs are advised before filming that their pitch may not be broadcast for ‘editorial reasons,’ and will be informed before the series finale. Entrepreneurs pitches selected for broadcast are contacted between a week to one month before it will be aired, allowing time for them to prepare marketing campaigns.