The Den (TV programme) facts for kids
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| Country | Ireland |
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| Broadcast area | Ireland Northern Ireland Worldwide (online) |
| Network | RTÉ One (1986–88, 2020–present) RTÉ Two (1988–2010) |
| Headquarters | Montrose, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English Irish |
| Picture format | PAL I standard |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) |
| Sister channels | RTÉ One, RTÉ Two |
| History | |
| Launched | 29 September 1986 |
| Former names | Dempsey's Den (1986–90) Den TV (occasionally between 1990 and 1997) Den2 (1998–2002) The Den (2002–2010) |
| The Den | |
|---|---|
Dempsey's Den logo used in 1989
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| Presented by | Ian Dempsey (1986–90) Ray D'Arcy (1990–98, 2020–) Damien McCaul (1998–2003) Francis Boylan, Jnr (2003–05) Kathryn McKiernan (2005–2010) |
| Starring | Aunt Monica, Dustin the Turkey, Snotser, Soky, Zig and Zag, Zuppy |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | Over 5,000 |
| Production company(s) | Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) |
| Release | |
| Original network | RTÉ One (1986–88, 2020–present) RTÉ Two (1988–2010) |
| Original release | 30 September 1986 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | 2Phat, Anything Goes, A Scare at Bedtime, Dustin's Daily News, Echo Island, Jo Maxi, The Podge and Rodge Show |
The Den was a very popular children's TV show in Ireland, made by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). It first started on September 29, 1986, on RTÉ One. Two years later, it moved to RTÉ Two.
At first, it was a show that linked other children's programmes together in the afternoons. Over time, The Den grew and became a big part of all children's shows on RTÉ. It was known by different names, like Dempsey's Den, Den TV, and Den2.
In 2010, RTÉ changed its children's programming and launched new channels called RTÉjr and TRTÉ. The Den aired its last show on September 19, 2010. However, it made a big comeback in November 2020!
Contents
What Made The Den Special?
The Den was known for being a bit cheeky and funny, often using clever jokes in its live parts. It also brought many famous puppet characters to Irish TV.
Some of these beloved puppets included:
- Zig and Zag
- Podge and Rodge
- Socky the Sock Monster
- Dustin the Turkey
These characters became very famous. Zig and Zag even moved to a TV channel in the UK. Podge and Rodge got their own adult comedy show on RTÉ. Dustin the Turkey became so popular that he even ran for President and represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest!
In its later years, The Den took up a lot of time on RTÉ Two. It aired for over 11 hours on weekdays and also on weekend mornings. It was also known for showing new episodes of international cartoons and shows before other channels in Europe. A cool thing about The Den was that it never had commercials during its shows.
The History of The Den's Broadcasts
Following the success of children's shows in the UK, RTÉ decided to create its own special block of children's programmes. This started in September 1986 with Dempsey's Den. It was a two-hour show every weekday afternoon on RTÉ One. It included almost all of RTÉ's shows for young people.
Dempsey's Den was broadcast live from a small studio at RTÉ Television Centre. It was similar to a popular UK show that used a small "broom cupboard" studio. When Dempsey's Den moved to RTÉ Two in September 1988, it got an extra hour of airtime each weekday.
Early Years: 1986–1998
Ian Dempsey was the first presenter of The Den until the summer of 1990. After him, Ray D'Arcy took over and presented the show until 1998. Later presenters included Damien McCaul and Francis Boylan Jr.
The show's format stayed mostly the same for its first ten years. It usually had:
- Cartoons
- Music videos
- At least one RTÉ-made show
- A daily 'Birthday Slot' where they wished viewers a happy birthday
- A quiz for viewers on certain days
Sometimes, they would also have special features like interviews or funny sketches. The studio set often changed, with themes like a treehouse, a chip van, or even a UFO!
When Ray D'Arcy left, the show changed quite a bit. The yearly Christmas special stopped, and a new morning show was added. This morning show was presented by Geri Maye along with the puppet Soky. Ray D'Arcy's last show was on Friday, May 29, 1998.
Changes and New Names: 1998–2005
In 1998, The Den was relaunched and renamed Den2. This was part of a bigger change for RTÉ Two. Den2 had longer hours, airing from 6 am to 5 pm. From 2003, another section called iD was added for older viewers, airing from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Live presenters were mostly seen during the morning and afternoon parts of the show. These presenters included Geri Maye, Damien McCaul, and Francis Boylan Jr. In 2002, the show went back to being called The Den. Even with these changes, the fun spirit of The Den stayed the same, with quizzes, birthday greetings, and puppets.
As Den2, the show launched its own website in October 1999. In 2003, it also got its own daily news show for kids called news2day, similar to a popular news show for children in the UK.
The Final Years: 2005–2010
The Den got another big update on September 17, 2005, with new graphics. By this time, the show was split into several daily parts, including:
- Wakey Wakey
- Den Tots
- The Club
The existing news2day bulletin continued to air at 5 pm. This final update meant that many of the puppet characters, except for Dustin, Socky, Charly, and Zuppy, got their own separate show. The morning slot also changed to focus more on older kids. Kathryn McKiernan became the main presenter for both morning and afternoon shows.
In September 2008, more changes happened. The separate shows were stopped, and live presenters were replaced by voice-overs. The Den finally ended in September 2010. RTÉ then launched two new channels for children's shows: RTÉjr and TRTÉ.
The Return: 2020–Present
On September 22, 2020, RTÉ announced that The Den would be returning! It came back as a new weekend family show, bringing back Ray D'Arcy with the famous puppets Zig and Zag and Dustin the Turkey. The show returned on November 8, 2020, and made its debut on RTÉ One, where it had originally started.
Presenters of The Den
| Presenter | Period |
|---|---|
| Ian Dempsey | 1986–1990 |
| Ray D'Arcy | 1990–1998, 2020–present |
| Damien McCaul | 1998–2003 |
| Francis Boylan, Jnr | 2003–2005 |
| Kathryn McKiernan | 2005–2010 |
Show Assistants
Ciara Carroll was a regular assistant during Ray D'Arcy's time as presenter. She would often announce new competitions and her laughter could be heard in the background. During Ian Dempsey's years, the assistant was Celine, who later presented another show called Jo Maxi.
In its later years, The Den stayed on air during the summer. Sometimes, guest presenters like Aidan Power or Aoileann Garavaglia would fill in. Other times, there was no live presenter.
Shows Made by The Den
The Den also produced its own shows, including:
- Echo Island
- The Grip
- The Works
Special Revivals and Anniversaries
On November 14, 2008, a special episode of The Ray D'Arcy Show was broadcast live. It looked back at the early years of The Den from 1986 to 1994.
A TV special called Best Bitz From Back Den aired on RTÉ One on October 27, 2008. This show celebrated the 21st anniversary of Zig and Zag. It featured old clips of the puppets and presenters Ray D'Arcy and Ian Dempsey. Highlights included funny moments with a panda puppet named Ted, old Christmas specials, and other characters like Captain Joke.
Another TV special and DVD, Dustin: 20 Years a Pluckin', was released in November 2009. It aired on RTÉ One on November 8, 2009, to celebrate Dustin the Turkey's 20th anniversary.
The Den also returned for a special charity show for Comic Relief on June 26, 2020.
