The Den (TV programme): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:34, 30 November 2005

Latest revision as of 04:07, 20 July 2025

Line 1:

{{Short description|Irish children's television programme}}

'''''The Den''''' is the children's television strand on [[RTÉ Two]] in [[Ireland]]. The strand airs from 6am to 5:30pm each weekday, with the brand also being used on weekend mornings.

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2014}}

{{Infobox television

| image = The Den 2005 logo.png

| image_size = 200

| caption = The Den 2005 logo

| alt_name = ''Dempsey's Den'' (1986–1990)<br/> ''The Den'' (1990-1993)<BR/> ''Den TV'' (1993-1998)<br/>''Den 2'' (1998–2002)<br/>''The Den'' (2002–2010, 2020)

| creator =

| developer =

| writer =

| director =

| creative_director =

| presenter = [[Ian Dempsey]] (1986–1990)<br/>[[Ray D'Arcy]] (1990–98, 2020–)<ref name=1995_photograph/><br/>[[Damien McCaul (presenter)|Damien McCaul]] (1998–2003)<br/>Francis Boylan, Jnr (2003–05)<br/> Kathryn McKiernan (2005–2010)

| starring = Aunt Monica, [[Dustin the Turkey]], [[Snotser]], [[Soky]], [[Zig and Zag (puppets)|Zig and Zag]], [[Zuppy]]

| voices =

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer =

| country = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]

| language = English

| num_seasons = <!-- or num_series -->

| num_episodes = Over 5,000

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer =

| producer =

| editor =

| ___location = Dublin; on ___location

| cinematography =

| camera =

| runtime =

| company = [[RTÉ]]

| channel = [[RTÉ One]] (1986–88, 2020)<br/>[[RTÉ Two]] (1988–2010)

| first_aired = {{Start date|1986|9|29|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2020|12|20|df=y}}

| related = ''[[2Phat]]'', ''[[Anything Goes (Irish TV series)|Anything Goes]]'', ''[[A Scare at Bedtime]]'', ''[[Dustin's Daily News]]'', ''[[Echo Island]]'', ''[[Jo Maxi]]'', ''[[The Podge and Rodge Show]]''

}}

'''''The Den''''' was a long-running children's entertainment television programme on [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]'s public broadcaster, [[RTÉ]].

First broadcast on 29 September 1986 on [[RTÉ1]], it moved to [[Network 2]] two years later.

The Den received a complete makeover, with a change in format and a brand new visual identity on [[Saturday]] [[17 September]] [[2005]]. Much of the information in this article relates to the "old" Den. For information on the "new" Den, see the section "Current format".

Initially a continuity strand{{clarify|reason=WHAT IS A CONTINUITY STRAND?|date=April 2025}} for weekday afternoon programmes, ''The Den'' later expanded during the late 1990s and the 2000s, until it became synonymous with [[RTÉ Young People's Programming|RTÉ's children's output]].

As well as airing on [[RTÉ Two]], the Den has its own [[electronic programme guide]] placement on [[NTL Ireland]] - channel 601 - though this is simply a duplicate of the RTÉ Two feed rather than a separate channel.

At various times during its run, it was known as ''Dempsey's Den'', ''Den TV'' and ''Den2''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lovin.ie/news/feature/the-den-2-presenters-where-are-they-now|title=The Den 2 Presenters – Where Are They Now?|website=Lovin.ie|date=13 March 2017 }}</ref>

==Current format==

In mid-2010, RTÉ Television announced an overhaul of its children's output with the launch of [[RTÉjr]] and [[TRTÉ]] (now ''RTÉ Kids'').<ref name="new_season_2010" /> ''The Den'' aired for the last time on 19 September 2010.<ref name="times_2010_overhaul" />

RTÉ completely relaunched the Den on [[17 September]] [[2005]] - although as this was a Saturday, the new weekday programme formats proper began airing on [[19 September]]. The new Den is divided into three main strands:

The ''Den'' name returned for six weeks from November 2020 on RTÉ1, reuniting members of the original cast in a Sunday-evening variety-show format, predominantly aimed at families living through the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland|country's continuing Covid-19 lockdowns]].

* ''Wakey Wakey'', airing from 7:15-9:00am, presented by Kathryn McKiernan.

* ''Den Tots'', airing from 9:00am-2:35pm, presented by Emma O'Driscoll and Soky (see puppets, below). This is aimed at pre-schoolers.

* ''The Club'', airing from 2:35pm-5pm, presented again by Kathryn McKiernan.

==Overview==

Following the Club, [[DDN]] - ''Dustin's Daily News'' - airs, presented by [[Dustin the Turkey]] and Snotser. This is followed at 5:20pm by RTÉ's news bulletin aimed at children - News2day.

{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2025}}

''The Den'' is considered to have pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable viewing for children and young people during its ratings peak in the 1990s, often employing irreverent and occasionally satirical humour within its continuity links, including integrating current affairs and world events to ongoing storylines and character development.

It also reintroduced [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] [[puppet]] characters to Irish pop-culture, including [[Zig and Zag (puppets)|Zig and Zag]], [[Podge and Rodge]], [[List of The Den cast members#Soky|Soky the Sock Monster]], and [[Dustin the Turkey]].<ref name="TheJournal" /> Zig and Zag later transferred to [[Channel 4]]; Podge and Rodge moved onto adult comedy programming on RTÉ (including [[The Podge and Rodge Show|their own talk show]]); while Dustin went on to represent [[Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest]], among other media appearances.

On Saturday mornings, [[Sattitude]] airs, with [[ClubDisney]] - produced in association with [[The Walt Disney Company]] - airing on Sunday mornings.

In later years, ''The Den'' took up much of Network 2's daytime schedule, airing for over 11 hours each weekday{{cn|date=April 2025}} and on weekend mornings. It also acquired a reputation for airing new episodes of imported shows before other television networks in Europe.{{cn|date=April 2025}} There were no commercial breaks during shows on ''The Den'', although there were commercial breaks between shows.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

With this relaunch, the main section of the Den has its first female presenter. Also the puppets have been largely removed from this section, with the launch of their own programme DDN. It also sees a re-focusing of the breakfast slot away from pre-schoolers and towards older children, hence the fact that it is now presented by the same presenter as the afternoon programmes.

==Broadcast history==

==History==

[[File:D'Arcy, Dustin, Mary, Zag & Zig in a classic Den photo.jpg|thumb|[[President of Ireland]] [[Mary Robinson]] makes a live appearance on ''The Den'' in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1126/749472-mary-robinson-on-the-den/|title=Mary Robinson on The Den|website=RTÉ Archives|access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>]]

Following on from the success of a [[Children's BBC]] (CBBC) strand{{clarify|reason=WHAT IS A STRAND?|date=April 2025}} in the UK, RTÉ launched its own strand for children's programming, ''Dempsey's Den'', on 29 September 1986. Initially it was a two-hour strand each weekday afternoon on [[RTÉ 1]] featuring nearly all of the broadcaster's youth output (the main exceptions being ''[[Bosco (TV series)|Bosco]]'' and ''[[Jo Maxi]]'').

Taking a cue from CBBC's ''Broom Cupboard'' format, ''Dempsey's Den'' was broadcast live from a tiny, single-camera presentation studio at [[RTÉ Television Centre]], used mostly for in-vision continuity.{{clarify|reason=WHAT DOES JARGON "IN-VISION CONTINUITY" MEAN?|date=April 2025}} Upon its move to [[Network 2]] in September 1988, ''Dempsey's Den'' gained an extra hour of airtime each weekday.

'''''The Den''''' began in the [[1980s]] as ''Dempsey's Den'', it was fronted by [[Ian Dempsey]] for many years, and ran from 3 PM to 6 PM every weekday. It contained almost all of RTÉ's children's programming output for many years, with the exception of ''[[Bosco]]'' (shown immediately before ''The Den'') and a half-hour of [[teenage]] oriented programming shown immediately after ''The Den''.

[[Ian Dempsey]] fronted the strand until the summer of 1990, although he continued to present the music feature ''Pop Goes the Den'' for a number of years. [[Ray D'Arcy]] took over ''The Den'' from 1990 to 1998, followed by [[Damien McCaul (presenter)|Damien McCaul]] (1998-2003), Francis Boylan Jr (2003-2005) and Kathryn McKiernan (2005-2008).

In the early [[1990s]], Ian Dempsey was replaced by [[Ray D'Arcy]], although he remained for a number of years afterwards in the regular pop music section of the show, "Pop Goes The Den". D'Arcy presented the show until [[1999]], when he was replaced by [[Damien McCaul]]. Francis Boylan Jnr. took over the reins in 2004. Over time, the programme dropped the leading "Dempsey's", and alternated between the names ''The Den'' and ''Den TV''. Following the rebrand of Network 2 to N2 in 1997, Den TV became "Den 2" but this reverted to "The Den" in 2002.

===1986–1998===

In [[2004]], the Den introduced a daily news programme for children, [[News2day]], somewhat similar to the BBC's [[Newsround]].

{{Refimprove section|date=April 2025}}

[[File:Dempsey's Den 1989 logo.png|thumb|Dempsey's Den logo used in 1988-1990]]

The Den launched as ''Dempsey's Den'' in 1986, with Irish radio personality Ian Dempsey acting as presenter. He was joined in 1987 by puppets, adolescent alien brothers Zig and Zag, hailing from the planet Zog, and recognisable by their ''zogabongs'', spring-like antennae – who initially sought to 'collect jokes', and often used their roles and alternate personae on the show as a means of exploring human popular culture. The trio would later be joined by the brothers' extraterrestrial pet dog Zuppy, initially cast as a boisterous, mildly destructive counterfoil to Zag's more gentle nature, and later becoming a non-verbal staple of the strand's various incarnations.

In April 1989, the show produced a week of content from [[Los Angeles]] in California, visiting sites such as [[Universal Studios Hollywood|Universal Studios]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-04-07 |title=Dempsey's Den In LA |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2014/0407/607210-dempseys-den-in-la/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |language=en}}</ref>

===Classic format===

The trio were joined by puppet [[Dustin the Turkey|Dustin the Turkey-Vulture]] in December 1989, after Zag won Dustin in a golf tournament. Unaware that he was due to be slaughtered, cooked and consumed for that year's Christmas dinner, Dustin won the Irish public's affections with his inner-city [[Dublin]] accent and gregarious demeanour. Unable to bring themselves to kill the now-popular bird, the show's crew accepted him as one of their number – although subsequent part-time employment as 'a builder' became one of many running jokes, including the seemingly never-ending completion of off-screen neighbour, Mrs. Murphy's gate.

The format of the show changed very little during Dempsey and D'Arcy's years - it would start at 3PM after Bosco, show a "kiddie" cartoon and then do the "Birthday Slot". This would be a scroller of photos of children whose parents had sent in photos to be shown, followed by a music video. There would then be another cartoon or two, then an original RTÉ programme, followed by another cartoon and a music video, after which the programme ended. On certain days of the week, a quiz would be inserted in place of one of the cartoons.

The ''Den'' format changed little over its first decade on air. It generally consisted of several cartoons in English and [[Irish language|Irish]], music videos, at least one RTÉ production, a daily birthday slot, and on certain days of the week, a viewers' quiz. Occasional features included ___location inserts, interviews and sketches. In September 1990, following Ian Dempsey's departure, Ray D'Arcy became the presenter, and the programme was relaunched under the name ''The Den''.

The show is to this day presented from a studio - which has been a treehouse, chipvan and newsroom among other variations - with the presenter behind a desk (or counter, in the chipvan), and a collection of puppets either permanently or temporarily in front of the desk.

Following her election as the first female [[President of Ireland]] in 1990, [[Mary Robinson]] made her first television appearance as president-elect on ''The Den''. During a loud and chaotic conversation with the puppets, she confronted [[Dustin the Turkey]] for having accused her previously of having smelly feet, and teased him about his poor "performance" in the election, where the puppet's name was used by some electors to spoil their votes. She was asked by one of the [[Zig and Zag (puppets)|Zig and Zag duo]], "Mary, how much money do you have?" She also talked about her children and showed to viewers, and talked about, several large greeting cards sent to her by schoolchildren.<ref>{{cite web

The show goes out live, as was demonstrated all too well in [[1990]] when the adbreak ended early, with the shot coming back to Zig and Zag punting a Bosco puppet around and the puppeteers shouting "[[Bosco]] is a [[bollox]]". However, Ray D'Arcy claims this never happened. On another occasion, a particularly dim-witted child was doing a phone quiz and could not answer a question despite being directly told the answer after several hints. Zag finally shouted "Ah, for fuck's sake!" On another occasion, an adbreak cut in when Ray was halfway through talking about an item. When the adbreak ended, it would be safe to say he wasn't best pleased.

| title = Mrs President Takes On Dustin 1990

| date = 1990-11-27

| website = RTÉ Archives

| url = https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1126/749472-mary-robinson-on-the-den/

}}</ref><ref>{{cite web

| title = Flashback 1990: Mary Robinson's election as president

| date = 2015-11-07

| website = Irish Independent

| url = https://www.independent.ie/life/flashback-1990-mary-robinsons-election-as-president/34169915.html

}}</ref> This would foreshadow several storyline election campaigns by Dustin over the course of the decade{{cn|date=April 2025}} – invariably running for the [[Fianna Fáil|Fianna Fowl]] party – which in turn led to the character's rise to infamy among Irish voters and political observers as a [[Spoilt vote|spoilt-vote]] candidate.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In September 1993, the strand's name was changed to ''Den TV''.

After Ray D'Arcy' left the programme, the format changed significantly. The Christmas show was dropped, an hour in the morning before school time was added, presented by a different presenter, with only Socky from the puppets.

The show's studio set changed annually; a running joke reflecting the storyline 'nuisance' status experienced by the Den crew within the state broadcaster's internal hierarchy, and a subtle commentary on its funding of young people's output. Locations included Number 10 Celebrity Square, in which Dustin set up a [[French fries|chip]] van for a period (1992-1993), a building site, a treehouse (1995-1996), a caravan (1996-1997), a smelly shed (1997-1998), a big bus (1998-1999), a hair salon called ''On The Noggin'' (1999-2000) and a spaceship.<ref>

===1997 relaunch===

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXSR_=crde_qhIDrz&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26%2524%253ds%3dden%2b1991%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26search%3dsearch%26text_search_context%3dden%2b1991%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft The Den set 1990-1991]

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=7&_IXSR_=a9HgMGXNIBW&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253ds%3dden%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26%2524%253dsort%253d%2524%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26%253did_ref%3d%26%257bUPPER%257dcontent_people%3d%26%257bSINGLE%257drte_programme%3d%26%257bUPPER%257drte_programmetype%3d%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d01%252f08%252f1991%26%253ephoto_taken_date_latest%3d01%252f08%252f1992%26%257bSIMPLE%257d%257bSINGLE%257dcollection%3d%26%2524%253dtheskeys%3dy%26%2524%253dkf1%253d%2524%3d%26%2524%253dkv1%253d%2524%3d%26%2524%253dkf2%253d%2524%3d%26%2524%253dkv2%253d%2524%3d%26%2524%253dkf3%253d%2524%3d%26%2524%253dkv3%253d%2524%3d%26text_search_context%3dden&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft The Den set 1991-1992]

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=8&_IXSR_=q_whJN3OCEG&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAX The Den set 1992-1993]

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXSR_=q_whJN3OCEG&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAX The Den set 1992-1993]

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=9&_IXSR_=dJULiYg2dMc&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26%2524%253ds%3dden%2b1993%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26search%3dsearch%26text_search_context%3dden%2b1993%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft The Den set 1993-1994]

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXSR_=6mdmxGdi725&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26%2524%253ds%3dden%2b1994%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26search%3dsearch%26text_search_context%3dden%2b1994%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft The Den set 1994-1995]

* {{cite web|url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=116&_IXSR_=cOd8jzeIJzb&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26search%3dsearch%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26%2524%253ds%3dthe%2bden%26text_search_context%3dthe%2bden%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft |title=The presenting team that worked on RTÉ Television's young people's programme 'Den TV' in studio in November 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411034833/https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=116&_IXSR_=cOd8jzeIJzb&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3D10&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFIRST_=1&%2Asform=%2Fweb%2Fsearch_forms%2Fadvanced&%24=si%3Dtext&_IXACTION_=query&_IXINITSR_=y&%24=sort%3Dsort%20descending%20sortexpr%20image_sort&search=search&%2Aiexe%20SECURITY_filter=.&%24=s%3Dthe%20den&text_search_context=the%20den&%3Cphoto_taken_date_earliest=&_IXSPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft |archive-date=11 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=21&_IXSR_=RzSz5j2S7KL&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26%2524%253ds%3dden%2b1995%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26search%3dsearch%26text_search_context%3dden%2b1995%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft The Den treehouse set 1995-1996]

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=6&_IXSR_=YU7Wbv5YCsX&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26%2524%253ds%3dden%2b1996%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26search%3dsearch%26text_search_context%3dden%2b1996%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft The Den caravan set 1996-1997]

* {{cite web|url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=9&_IXSR_=Bl6qFQDFZrs&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26search%3dsearch%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26%2524%253ds%3ddon%2bconroy%26text_search_context%3ddon%2bconroy%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft |title=The presenting team that worked on RTÉ Television's young people's programme 'Den TV' in studio on 18 September 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411024915/https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=9&_IXSR_=Bl6qFQDFZrs&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3D10&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFIRST_=1&%2Asform=%2Fweb%2Fsearch_forms%2Fadvanced&%24=si%3Dtext&_IXACTION_=query&_IXINITSR_=y&%24=sort%3Dsort%20descending%20sortexpr%20image_sort&search=search&%2Aiexe%20SECURITY_filter=.&%24=s%3Ddon%20conroy&text_search_context=don%20conroy&%3Cphoto_taken_date_earliest=&_IXSPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft |archive-date=11 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}

* [https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=4&_IXSR_=4Qw9fwnHZ7k&_IXSS_=%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26%2524%253ds%3dden%2b1997%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26search%3dsearch%26text_search_context%3dden%2b1997%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft The Den smelly shed set 1997-1998]</ref><ref name="1995_photograph">{{cite web |title=From left to right; Don Conroy, Soky, programme presenter Ray D'Arcy, Zuppy, Ciara Carroll and Dustin |url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=10&_IXSR_=Bl6qFQDFZrs&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26search%3dsearch%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26%2524%253ds%3ddon%2bconroy%26text_search_context%3ddon%2bconroy%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411023822/https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=10&_IXSR_=Bl6qFQDFZrs&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3D10&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFIRST_=1&%2Asform=%2Fweb%2Fsearch_forms%2Fadvanced&%24=si%3Dtext&_IXACTION_=query&_IXINITSR_=y&%24=sort%3Dsort%20descending%20sortexpr%20image_sort&search=search&%2Aiexe%20SECURITY_filter=.&%24=s%3Ddon%20conroy&text_search_context=don%20conroy&%3Cphoto_taken_date_earliest=&_IXSPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft |archive-date=11 April 2015}}</ref> The presenter tended to sit behind a desk (or counter in the chip van), with any puppets perched between the desk and the camera.

In September 1992, Zig and Zag joined Channel 4's [[The Big Breakfast]] in the UK, eventually leaving ''The Den'' after the 1992-1993 season to spend more time appearing live on British and European television.

The 1997 relaunch saw the Den - renamed Den 2 at this point - become much more like a TV station of its own, with its own trailers and presentation. It now aired from 6am through to 5pm, and from 2001 was followed by a youth strand, [[iD (television)|iD]] (renamed iD Two in late 2004, and becoming '''TTV''' in [[September 2005]]). ''Den 2'' ran from 7:35 AM until 5 PM and iD Two ran from 5 PM until 7 PM.

Shortly into the 1993-1994 season, Dustin neglected to do the washing for so long that smelly socks in the linen bin at the back of the set eventually came to life, in the form of [[Soky|Soky the Sock Monster]]. Initially making silent cameo appearances at the end of a broadcast day for eagle-eyed viewers, Soky was a gentle, child-like creature that immediately [[Imprinting (psychology)|imprinted]] upon D'Arcy upon being discovered, referring to him thereafter as 'Mammy Ray'. Popular among the strand's very young viewers, Soky's behaviour and humour often reflected the perspectives of a human [[toddler]], including a fondness for comfort items, such as his blue bucket.

Much of the time during the day, there were no continuity links. However during this period there were two sections of the programme which do have presentation - "Den AM" (aka "Socky's Big Little Morning Show") in the mornings, which was presented by Geri Maye (for a time engaged to former presenter Ray D'Arcy) until early 2005, and the traditional afternoon slot, which was presented by Francis Boylan Jr until June 2005. The strand readopted the name "The Den" in 2002.

D'Arcy's last broadcast was on Friday 29 May 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dustin-in-need-of-fresh-foil-as-darcy-deserts-the-den-1.155786|title=Dustin in need of fresh foil as Darcy deserts 'The Den'|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=23 May 1998|quote=...next Friday is Ray Darcy's last day in The Den...}}</ref>

While the programme has changed, much of its original spirit still remained - there were still quizzes, the Birthday scroller still exists, and there were still puppets.

===1998–2005===

==Original Programming==

{{Refimprove section|date=April 2025}}

[[File:Den_2_1999_Logo.jpg|thumb|right|Den 2 1998-2002 logo]]

[[File:Damien McCaul and Dustin the Turkey 1998.jpg|thumb|[[Damien McCaul (presenter)|Damien McCaul]] and [[Dustin the Turkey]] on ''Den2'' after the 1998 relaunch]]

In September 1998, the Den was relaunched under the name ''Den 2'', with Damien McCaul taking over as presenter. A morning show, ''Den AM,'' was presented by [[Geri Maye]] and Soky, beginning in 1998. A further strand aimed at older children, ''iD'', aired from 5 pm to 7 pm.

''Den 2'' was broadcast continuously from morning to evening, but in-vision continuity was confined to the morning and afternoon strands. As ''Den 2'', the programme launched a website in October 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=1933&_IXSR_=2PbsIatV6WL&_IXSS_=_IXFPFX_%3Dtemplates%252ft%26_IXFIRST_%3D1%26_IXACTION_%3Dquery%26with%2Bimage_sort%3D%252e%26%2524%2Bwith%2Brte_programmetype_th_h%2Bfrom%2B1%252eZZZE%25400Y%2Bto%2B1%252eZZZE%25400Y%257e%3D%252e%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3D&_IXSPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft |title=RTÉ broadcaster Liz Bonnin posing with Dustin the puppet turkey and a computer monitor in a publicity shot to launch the 'Den 2' website in October 1999 |date=5 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325114905/https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=1933&_IXSR_=2PbsIatV6WL&_IXSS_=_IXFPFX_%3Dtemplates%252ft%26_IXFIRST_%3D1%26_IXACTION_%3Dquery%26with%2Bimage_sort%3D%252e%26%2524%2Bwith%2Brte_programmetype_th_h%2Bfrom%2B1%252eZZZE%25400Y%2Bto%2B1%252eZZZE%25400Y%257e%3D%252e%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3D&_IXSPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft |archive-date=25 March 2023}}</ref> In 2003, the strand gained its own daily news bulletin, ''[[news2day]]'', similar in format to the BBC's ''[[Newsround]]''.

Some of the original programming shown during The Den has managed to stand up on its own as a separate programme, or has otherwise been memorable

The programme's name reverted to ''The Den'' in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=2019&tpl=archnews&force=1|title=RTE's Autumn TV Schedule Announced &#124; The Irish Film & Television Network|website=www.iftn.ie}}</ref> Damien McCaul left the presenter's role at the end of the 2002-2003 season and was replaced by Francis Boylan Jr in September 2003.<ref name="mccaul_to_step_down">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2003/0526/399338-theden/|title=Talent search for new Den presenter|publisher=RTÉ|date=26 May 2003|access-date=26 May 2003|quote=Damien McCaul has spent five years in the ''Den'' chair, helped along by Dustin and Soky and is due to step down at the end of May.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409003212/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2003/0526/399338-theden/|archive-date=9 April 2015}}</ref> Boylan remained as presenter until June 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/the-den-ends-after-24-madcap-years-26680731.html|title='The Den' ends after 24 madcap years|website=independent|date=14 September 2010 }}</ref>

===[[Echo Island]]===

===2005–2010===

A "Children's Magazine" show, along the lines of [[Blue Peter]], Echo Island ran three days a week for many years in both English and [[Irish language]] versions. This was later known as "Echo".

{{Refimprove section|date=April 2025}}

''The Den'' was revamped again on 17 September 2005 with a new graphics package designed by Dunning Elley Joans (now Dunning Penny Joans).

By now, the strand had been split into several daily shows, including ''Wakey Wakey'', ''Den Tots'' and ''The Club'', alongside the existing ''news2day'' bulletin at 5 pm.<ref>[[RTÉ Guide]], 17–23 September 2005 edition and subsequent dates</ref> This final revamp removed much of the cast (bar Dustin, Soky, Charly and Zuppy), with Dustin moving to his own programme, ''Dustin's Daily News''.

===Jo Maxi===

It also refocused the breakfast slot away from pre-school children and towards older viewers, with one continuity presenter, Kathryn McKiernan, fronting both morning and afternoon shows.

Not really part of The Den, Jo Maxi (later called JMTV) was a mainly music based show aimed at [[adolescents]]. It was shown directly after The Den had ended, but was integrated into the show by the delayed displaying of The Den's copyright notice until after it had ended.

In September 2008, the separate shows were axed and in-vision presentation was replaced with out-of-vision announcements.

==Puppets==

''The Den'' ceased in September 2010 when RTÉ launched two new strands for its children's output: [[RTÉjr]] and [[TRTÉ]].<ref name=new_season_2010>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/newseason2010/index.html|title=The New Season on RTÉ Television|publisher=RTÉ Press Office|date=5 August 2010|access-date=5 August 2010|quote=[...] RTÉ Television will soon be announcing [...] the '''launch of two completely new schedules of Young People's programmes in September'''. This [...] will be broadcast in '''two brand new channel blocks''', commissioned to cater specifically for [...] the nation's younger viewers as they develop from pre-school through to teens.}}</ref><ref name=times_2010_overhaul>{{cite news|first=Ronan|last=McGreevy|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0913/breaking38.html|title=RTÉ overhauls children's TV schedule|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=13 September 2010|access-date=13 September 2010}}</ref>

One of the most successful parts of the programme has been its puppets. They are listed below in order of importance, but only Dustin, Snotser, Socky and Zuppy are still with the show.

===Zig, Zag and Zuppy2020===

{{Refimprove section|date=April 2025}}

Following a popular Comic Relief special reunion episode in June 2020, on 22 September 2020, RTÉ confirmed the return of ''The Den'' as a new weekend family show, reuniting Ray D'Arcy with Zig and Zag and Dustin the Turkey.

The show returned to RTÉ One on 8 November 2020 and ran for six episodes including a Christmas Special, airing on Sunday evenings, the station's long-established 'appointment-viewing' slot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2020/0922/1166810-den-and-now-ray-dustin-and-zig-zag-to-reunite/|title=Den and now: Ray, Dustin and Zig & Zag to reunite|date=22 September 2020|publisher=www.rte.ie}}</ref>

The most famous of the puppets were the original [[Zig and Zag (puppets)|Zig and Zag]], two ten year old aliens from the [[Planet Zog]]. These were a very successful franchise on their own, spawning [[parody]] tapes, [[comic books]] and car toys. A popular toy throughout the late 1980s were [[Zogabongs]], the unusual antennae on Zig and Zag's hair.

===Special episodes===

They had a dog called [[Zuppy]], who rarely appeared in the programme, but was used more in the comic books.

{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2025}}

* Christmas 1988: '''Dempsey's Den Goes to Santaland''': The first Christmas special. The gang travel to Santaland.

* Christmas 1991: '''Must Go to Moscow''': The gang travel to [[Moscow]].

* Christmas 1991: '''Turn On the Christmas lights at Dublin Airport''': Ray D'Arcy, Zig and Zag travel to Dublin Airport to turn on the Christmas lights.

* October 1992: '''The Den Goes Disney''': The gang travel to Euro Disney.

* Christmas 1992: '''Christmas Crisis''': Podge breaks into Number 10 Celebrity Square, steals a gift of aftershave meant for Ray D'Arcy's mother and breaks D'Arcy's clock, and frames Zig. The episode culminates in a trip to Lapland to save Santa, who has been kidnapped by Podge.

* Christmas 1993: '''Together for Xmas''': Zig and Zag return to the show on the occasion of a Swiss chocolate being made in Zag's likeness. Zag has become self-obsessed since becoming a celebrity in the UK, and is led on a journey of self-realisation.

* 1996: '''The Den is 10''': A reunion episode celebrating the 10th anniversary of ''The Den''.

* Christmas 1996: '''Christmas Crisis 2''': Zig and Zag return again for a Christmas gathering with the gang at Cranberry Lodge, 10 Celebrity Hill. Over the course of the evening, Podge and Rodge conspire to kidnap each guest, one by one.

* Halloween 1997: '''Halloween on the Den''': Podge and Rodge trick Dustin into thinking he has won the Irish presidential election, and lure him to a house that they convince him is Áras an Uachtarán, where they plan to kidnap the gang and take over the Den.

* Christmas 1998: '''The Den Christmas Special''': The gang travel to [[New York City|New York]] to find a Mr Blue Bucket with removable arms for Soky for Christmas.

* Halloween Special (2003?): Presenter gets turned into a bird at a haunted house and Dustin tells him to keep his feathers on.

* June 2020: '''Comic Relief Special'''

==Presenters==

Zig and Zag left for a presenting job on [[Channel 4]]'s [[The Big Breakfast]], whereas Zuppy and Dustin remained, and were joined by a sock-monster called [[Socky]]. After a failed children's show on ITV, they returned to Ireland to host ''[[2Phat]]'', a music-quiz show along with Ray D'Arcy. Two running gags in this show were the two puppets' infatuation with regular character Velcro Girl, and Zig's inability to stop saying "Darcy's Arse!".

{{Refimprove section|date=April 2025}}

{{further|List of The Den cast members}}

{| class="wikitable"

! Presenter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=3&_IXSR_=2Mn3vtYAJW3&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3d10%26_IXFPFX_%3dtemplates%252ft%26_IXFIRST_%3d1%26%252asform%3d%252fweb%252fsearch_forms%252fadvanced%26%2524%253dsi%3dtext%26_IXACTION_%3dquery%26_IXINITSR_%3dy%26%2524%253dsort%3dsort%2bdescending%2bsortexpr%2bimage_sort%26search%3dsearch%26%252aiexe%2bSECURITY_filter%3d%252e%26%2524%253ds%3ddempsey%2527s%2bden%26text_search_context%3ddempsey%2527s%2bden%26%253cphoto_taken_date_earliest%3d&_IXSPFX_=templates%2ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2ft |title=From left to right are; Ian Dempsey, Ray D'Arcy, Damien McCaul and Francis Boylan - all four were former presenters of RTÉ Television's 'The Den' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411021054/https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/result.html?_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXACTION_=query&_IXFIRST_=3&_IXSR_=2Mn3vtYAJW3&_IXSS_=_IXMAXHITS_%3D10&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFIRST_=1&%2Asform=%2Fweb%2Fsearch_forms%2Fadvanced&%24=si%3Dtext&_IXACTION_=query&_IXINITSR_=y&%24=sort%3Dsort%20descending%20sortexpr%20image_sort&search=search&%2Aiexe%20SECURITY_filter=.&%24=s%3Ddempsey%27s%20den&text_search_context=dempsey%27s%20den&%3Cphoto_taken_date_earliest=&_IXSPFX_=templates%2Ft&_IXFPFX_=templates%2Ft |archive-date=11 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> !! Period

|-

| [[Ian Dempsey]] || 1986–1990

|-

| [[Ray D'Arcy]] || 1990–1998, 2020<ref name=1995_photograph/>

|-

| [[Damien McCaul (presenter)|Damien McCaul]] || 1998–2003<ref name=mccaul_to_step_down/>

|-

| Francis Boylan, Jnr || 2003–2005

|-

| Kathryn McKiernan || 2005–2010

|}

===Dustin and SnotserAssistants===

During the Dempsey years, ''The Den'' assistant was Celine, who would later present ''[[Jo Maxi]]'' when D'Arcy departed that programme to succeed Ian Dempsey.

Ciara Carroll served as a regular assistant during D'Arcy's time as presenter.<ref name="1995_photograph" /> She would arrive at the studio to announce new competitions, provide observations from behind the camera and her laughter could often be heard in the background as Zig and Zag accused her of being responsible for breaking wind. She would also include herself during many other features throughout the day.

Another regular on the programme, from the start right up until now has been [[Dustin the Turkey]]. He is portrayed as a builder, and his "Builders Mate", a pig called Snotser occasionally appears. They are both meant to be from the [[Northside (Dublin)|Northside Dublin]]. Dustin and Snotser were both spun off to their own programme, [[DDN]], in the September 2005 relaunch (see above).

In its latter years, ''The Den'' remained on air during the summer, either using temporary cover presenters ([[Aidan Power]], Aoibheann Garavaglia, etc.) or with no presenter-led continuity.

===Socky===

==Home-produced programming==

Socky the sock monster was introduced after the departure of Zig and Zag, and is targeted towards the younger viewer. Unlike the other puppets, he is not ever present, although he is more commonly there during the early morning shows. He is a Sock Monster, who has old, used socks instead of hair. Viewers send him in socks as presents. His prized possession was his blue bucket.

{{main|List of The Den programmes}}

These included programming such as ''[[Echo Island]]'', ''The Grip'' and ''The Works''.

===Ted===

==Revivals==

Ted was a running in-joke between Dempsey/D'Arcy and Zig and Zag. He has appeared since, but rarely. Ted was a possessed stuffed [[panda]] who rarely appeared, but every few shows a photo of him either in a famous ___location or attacking a famous person or a viewer would be shown. He would regularly appear in the studio, but only when the presenter was missing from the shot. Later, a running joke where Ray D'Arcy wrestled with him was introduced, which involved the (genuinely quite large) stuffed toy being hurled at D'Arcy (whether he was expecting it or not), who then had to wrestle with it and hurl it offscreen again. It usually seemed to genuinely be quite tiring for him - especially when the crew would wickedly throw Ted right back at him after he tossed him offscreen. This always happened when Dustin was absent, and afterwards he wouldn't believe Ray that Ted had attacked him.

On 27 October 2008, a compilation episode, ''Best Bitz From Back Den'', was broadcast on [[RTÉ One]]. The episode featured clips dating back to Zig and Zag's origins on ''The Den''. It was compiled to celebrate the 21st anniversary of [[Zig and Zag (puppets)|Zig and Zag]]. It was released on DVD a month later. Presenters D'Arcy and Dempsey featured heavily in the special. Other highlights included assaults perpetrated by Ted (a malicious panda) on the presenters, Christmas specials of ''The Den'', footage of other characters such as Captain Joke, Captain Pillowcase and Cousin Nigel, and the 1989 Irish Film and Television awards at which Zig and Zag "accidentally" mistook then Taoiseach [[Albert Reynolds]] for actor [[Burt Reynolds]] and addressed him as "your majesty".<ref>{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Whitington|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/the-bourne-supremacy-1510144.html|title=The Bourne Supremacy|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=25 October 2008|access-date=25 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Sarah|last=Neville|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/zig-and-zag-return-to-tv-for-21st-anniversary-1504520.html|title=Zig and Zag return to TV for 21st anniversary|newspaper=Evening Herald|date=21 October 2008|access-date=21 October 2008}}</ref>

On 14 November 2008, an edition of ''[[The Ray D'Arcy Show]]'' (then of [[Today FM]]) aired live from [[Vicar Street]] in [[Dublin]], reflecting on the formative years of ''The Den'' from 1986 - 1994.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.todayfm.com/Article.asp?id=950816 |title=Ray Re-unites with Zig and Zag! |publisher=Today FM |access-date=15 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101063527/http://www.todayfm.com/Article.asp?id=950816 |archive-date=1 November 2008 }}</ref>

===Podge===

On 8 November 2009, a compilation episode, ''Dustin: 20 Years a Pluckin''', was broadcast on [[RTÉ One]]. It was also released on DVD. It was compiled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Dustin the Turkey.<ref>{{cite news|first=Pat|last=Stacey|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/dustins-endurance-prove-hes-no-turkey-27931076.html|title=Dustin's endurance prove he's no turkey|newspaper=Evening Herald|date=9 November 2009|access-date=9 November 2009}}</ref>

Podge was an evil boy-like puppet, who in all his appearances caused mischief and instigated conspiracies. He would usually appear when only Zig was around, and fool him into some badness. Podge convinced Zig to listen to his instructions, often citing "I only want a cuddle and a friend". In later years, Podge terrorised the whole cast. One year he took over the whole show and fired them all, renaming the show "Bun's Bungalow" and promising wall-to-wall Echo Island all day, every day. At the end of the programme it was all shown to have been a horrible dream... or was it? Another year, at the end of Dustin's spoof presidential campaign, he fooled the cast into believing that Dustin had won the election.

The Den returned for a [[Comic Relief]] charity special on 26 June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://evoke.ie/2020/06/12/showbiz/tv/the-den-return-comic-relief|title=The Den is set to return for RTE Does Comic Relief!|first=Bronwyn O.|last=Neill|date=12 June 2020|website=EVOKE.ie}}</ref><ref name="TheJournal">

Podge later reappeared co-hosting his own show "A Scare at Bedtime" with a similar puppet named Rodge. For all the Dastardly Duo's details, see: [[Podge and Rodge]].

{{cite web|url= https://www.thejournal.ie/dustin-the-den-5130813-Jun2020/ |title='The reason it worked is because RTÉ had feck all involvement': Dustin on The Den's reunion and the show's popularity |date=25 June 2020 |work=The Journal |access-date=25 June 2020}}</ref>

===SimonSee Trowel=also==

* [[Cúla 4]] - Irish-language children's channel

==References==

The most recent addition to the line of 'evil' puppets, Simon Trowel (an obvious pun on [[Simon Cowell]]) is a miserable 'twin' of Dustin, though he insists he is a troll rather than a turkey. Most recently before Halloween [[2004]], he kidnapped Dustin and tried to take his place, so he could steal the prizes available in the special Halloween pumpkin game. He made Francis and Socky drink a special brew that made them think he was Dustin. When they went off set, the TV screen at the back would show Dustin locked away, begging the viewers to help him get out and tell Francis and Socky that Simon Trowel's out there instead of him. On some occasions Simon was there when this happened, and he sneered at Dustin, declaring to the viewers that they'll never get him out.

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Ireland|1980s|1990s}}

==External links==

However, Simon's 'character' now appears to have been rewritten, as on [[November 2]], [[2005]], he appeared alongside Dustin in a sketch on Dustin's Daily News, in which they tried to get a [[rock music]] contract, and he was introduced to the record producer as being Dustin's cousin.

* [http://www.murtdog.com/podge/sounds.html Podge and Rodge early soundbites]

{{The Den}}

==Regular Sections==

{{Children's channels in UK & Ireland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Den, The}}

A number of regular (as in frequent but erratically timed) segments were dropped into the show a couple of times a week

[[Category:The Den (TV programme)| ]]

[[Category:1986 Irish television series debuts]]

===Draw with Don===

[[Category:2020 Irish television series endings]]

[[Category:1980s Irish television series]]

Weekly, the legendary [[Don Conroy]] comes into the studio to draw a picture (usually of wildlife) or read from one of his [[children's fiction|children's books]]. This has occurred virtually every week since the show started, and continues as part of '''The Club''' today, only now it is called '''The Art of Don'''.

[[Category:1990s Irish television series]]

[[Category:2000s Irish television series]]

===Astronomy Ireland===

[[Category:2010s Irish television series]]

[[Category:2020s Irish television series]]

Once a month, and at times of interesting astronomical events, a representative of [[Astronomy Ireland]] would come in and talk about the state of the stars, or the event occurring, and how to view it. This got moved over to iD, as it was decided it appealed to an older audience.

[[Category:Irish children's television shows]]

[[Category:Irish television shows featuring puppetry]]

===The Yes-No Game Show===

[[Category:Television programming blocks in Europe]]

Once a week a child would take part in this, in which he/she had to answer various questions about themselves without using the words "Yes" or "No". If they lasted long enough, they won several prizes, plus a Yes-No Game Show winners' mug. If they said "Yes" or "No" they got all the prizes anyway, except for the mug. It ran from roughly 1995-1998. It has now been revived as part of Dustin's Daily News.

===Quizzes===

There were various quizzes on The Den over the years, including:

*The Fluffy Green Telly Quiz

*The Fluffy Blue Telly Quiz

*The Big Bus Quiz

*Quiz Stream

When the Fluffy Green Telly Quiz 'stopped', there was a running gag that Dustin was working on a new quiz which promised to be bigger and better. The new quiz was kept under wraps and hidden under a blanket at the back of the studio. Finally, after much anticipation, Dustin proudly unveiled the new game... the Fluffy ''Blue'' Telly Quiz.

Except for Quiz Stream, these quizzes were very easy and non-competitive, and the host would usually give hints. In Quiz Stream, the competition currently running, two teams of three boys or three girls face each other. The first to answer 6 questions correctly (spelling out S-T-R-E-A-M in lights) wins.

==Holidays==

The shows format would be changed only 4 times a year during the Dempsey/D'Arcy years, although it might be minorly altered (moved to [[RTE1]] and shortened slightly) during major sporting events. It has become more irregular since.

===St. Patrick's Day===

Every few years, either the presenter, Zig and Zag, Dustin, or all of them would go somewhere else for the [[St. Patricks Day]] Parade, usually [[New York]]. This would mean the show was off-air a few days either side of the day, to give the cast a holiday

===Summer===

The Den would go off-air for two weeks in the middle of Summer, after which it would return with the cast in some ''exotic'' ___location. If a major event was occurring at the time, they would be at it - for example [[Italia 90]] and the [[1996 Olympics]].

However, another running joke was that they would go to [[Leitrim]], a county which Dustin despised completely, and which he held harsh opinions about. He would never believe they were there, even with County Councillors assuring him they were.

Nowadays, The Den remains on air during the summer, however there are often either replacement presenters and/or weeks when there is no live presentation.

===Halloween===

On [[Halloween]] night the programme would continue till 9 PM, usually showing repeats of ''[[Are You Afraid of the Dark? (television)|Are You Afraid of the Dark?]]'' and a light-hearted 'scary' movie. The 3pm-6pm show was usually filmed on ___location, for example, at an ancient castle.

===Christmas===

On [[Christmas]] day the show would start at around 6 AM and continue until 1 PM. The puppets would talk about the toys they got, and Christmas-themed cartoons would be shown.

During December, the show would go off air for a few days, during which the Christmas show would be filmed. This almost always involved a trip to Lapland and an improbably but fun plot in which the puppets had to save Christmas somehow, usually having to rescue [[Santa]].

Often, children with serious illnesses would be brought along with the cast, as an extension of their Make a Wish programme.

Occasionally there would be random days of no programming, if the presenter or the puppeteers wanted a day off, but children's movies would be brought out, and ''The Den'''s [[Digital On-screen Graphics|DOG Tag]] would remain. It is the only T.V. programme (besides the news) to be broadcast live around Ireland on Christmas Day

[[Category:Irish television programmes|Den, The]]