TODAY SAW THE launch of RTÉ’s new digital channel for the under-sevens… RTÉ Junior.
Part of a three-year strategy in the development of services for children, the channel will allow younglings to “watch, listen and play with band new channels on television, digital radio, as well as online and mobile services”.
Tsk, it’s far from online and mobile services we were raised.
Here are 13 retro favourites we’d put on the new RTÉ channel if we were in charge….
1. Bosco
The Magic Door, The Spuds, the Plonskters, Frank’s dungarees, Gráinne’s singing, Bosco’s little house… ah the memories.
2. Anything Goes
Anything Goes was RTÉ’s flagship Saturday Morning programme in the early eighties, featuring presenters Aengus McAnally, Andy Ruane, Mary Fitzgerald and hordes of kids in their good clothes.
3. Pajo’s Junkbox and Scratch Saturday
Pajo’s Junkbox was a staple of Scratch Saturday, and featured a punk rock rat, wearing a leather jacket and earrings, who lived in a box.
Every Irish child’s year was made if a new appliance with a large box came into the house – a cooker, a washing machine, a dishwasher.
You could make your own Pajo’s Junkbox and get weeks of fun out of it until it fell apart.
Image: RTÉ TV50
That terrifying old lady puppet still haunts our dreams. Anyone else?
Scratch Saturday ran from the late eighties and into the nineties, with presenters Brian Reddin, Brian Graham, Mary Kingston, Andy Ruane and Teresa Smith.
And who could forget Kevo?
4. Dempsey’s Den
Kicking off in the mid eighties with Ian Dempsey at the helm, and followed by The Den with Ray D’Arcy into the nineties, this show was a constant in the childhoods of many the Irish kid.
It brought us Zig and Zag, Dustin, Soky, Zuppy, the Christmas specials, Podge, Ted, Don Conroy, Snotser,
Also there was the time this happened:
5. Wanderly Wagon
Wanderly Wagon was one of RTÉ’s earliest programmes aimed at young people, airing from 1967 until 1982. It gave us Fortycoats, Rory, Judge, O’Brien, Mr Crow and Foxy.
6. How Do You Do with Mary Fitzgerald
Why was Mary Fitzgerald always tormenting us and making things that required pipe cleaners? Who had pipe cleaners just lying around? We loved her nonetheless.
7. Jo Maxi
More for the teens than the kids, Jo Maxi was an early evening offering of music and chat, presented by Ray D’Arcy and Shauna Lowry among others.
8. Rimini Riddle
Probably the most terrifying kids’ show to ever grace the RTÉ airwaves, Rimini Riddle followed a couple of puppet children as they explored the world inside a painting in their aunt’s guesthouse.
We say: “BRING IT BACK!”
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