2005 To 2010
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 look graphics were designed by Dunning Elley Joans (now Dunning Penny Joans). The new Den was divided into three main strands:
- Wakey Wakey, airing from 07:15 - 09:00, presented by Kathryn McKiernan.
- Den Tots, airing from 09:00 - 14:35, presented by james reilly, Charly and Socky This is aimed at pre-schoolers.
- The Club, airing from 14:35 - 17:00, presented again by Kathryn McKiernan. This is followed at 17:00 by RTÉ's news bulletin aimed at children - news2day.
On Saturday mornings, Sattitude airs, with ClubDisney, produced in association with The Walt Disney Company, airing on Sunday mornings.
With this re-launch, the main section of The Den has its first female presenter. Also, all the characters that achieved fame on the show (bar Dustin, Soky, Charly and Zuppy) 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.
From September 2008, Wakey Wakey, The Club and DDN were axed. The latter was replaced with ICE, presented by Sinead Kennedy, Brian Ormond and Rob Ross. Kathyrn McKiernan presents Kazoo. There is no current presenter although an announcer now says what is on next during the new "Now Next Later" graphics which have been given a new look in 2009. Dustin the Turkey now presents The Once a Week Show with co-host Sinéad Ni Churnain.
Read more about this topic: The Den (television)