Summer on RTÉjr 2016
Press Information
This Summer Come Holiday with RTÉjr. RTÉjr have lots of fun and adventures in store whatever the weather. Viewers will get a chance to clown around with children from The Gerbola Circus in Circus World. Yvette Poufong returns once more in search of the perfect pet and meets all creatures great and small from diabetic dogs to donkeys in ‘I want a Pet’. Viewers are invited to Sing in to the Summer with a new series Do, Re, Mi where Emma O’ Driscoll meets some young music fans and teaches them a thing or two about music.
Did you know that your mouth is the dirtiest part of the body? Find out why and lots more fun facts in the new series of The Why Guy. You can also follow the adventures of four heroes, Xuli, Kyan, Lars and Foz, as they travel the world with their teacher, mentor and friend, Ubercorn in Go Jetters the popular 3D animation.The series uses songs and music to expose facts about foreign countries and environments. You can also join Old Jack and Sally as they explore rockpools and discover the adventures of Sea Creatures in Old Jacks boat Rockpool Tales.
RTÉjr are getting in to the sporting spirit this Summer. Reuben and friends will be going for gold by hosting a mini olympics of their own. They’ll try their hands at everything from the more familiar three legged race, egg and spoon and wheelbarrow to the more bizarre banana relay , crab footie and wacky welly throwing. Tune in to see if you can spot any of Ireland’s future Olympians.
**New: Circus World” Irish lifestyle documentary Series (10 x 7 mins)
CIRCUS WORLD brings all the fun and excitement of the circus to RTÉjr’s young audience.
Set in and around a real Irish circus, Blake (10), Michael (8), Isabella (5) and their parents Mikey and Tara Gerbola will be our hosts. The ten part series follows the adventures of these three lively children as they travel all around Ireland putting up their tent.
Circus Gerbola is run by the children’s mum and dad Mikey and Tara who descend from their own long lines of circus and show business families. The Gerbola family specialises in clowning and goes back eight generations.
Each episode features a circus performer and their big top performance. We meet the different circus artistes – who come from all over the world – and observe the children try out new skills. Among the acts and activities featured are: clowning, acrobatics, wire walking, roller skating, magic, juggling, slapstick, flying, gymnastics and finale.
Each episode culminates with an entertaining aspect of the children’ s life on the road. They are in a different county everyday.
The series will keep children smiling long after the circus has left town.
**New: I want a Pet 2*** ( 15 x 5 mins)
Are you crazy about cats, dotty about dogs or in love with lambs? Then, I Want a Pet is the TV programme for you! Yvette Poufong returns with a brand new series travelling the country in search of the perfect pet for her. From slithery snakes to giddy goats, no animals are off limits – Yvette meets lots of children and their creatures, who teach her all about the joys of having a pet.
**New: Do Re Me** (30 x 3mins)
Tune in for some musical fun with Emma O’ Driscoll and friends as they bring to life a selection of our favourite songs using simple instruments and actions.
**New : The Why Guy – Fact or Fiction** (32 x 5 mins)
Join Abie and his team of experts as they work out if the facts machine’s statements are Fact or fiction … with a little help from some of his factfinder pals.
RTÉjr on Radio
Little Pages
RTÉjr Radio continues to foster children’s love of Books. Little Pages the popular children’s book programme is delighted to have a new presenter Claire Stone. During the summer Claire and her guests review titles such as ‘Lottie Potter Wants an Otter’. ‘Marmaduke the very popular Dragon’ and ‘Wildlife in Your Garden’. Little Pages is a weekly programme aimed at RTÉjr radio listeners and their parents. It’s aim is to help parents and chidren choose high quality, enjoyable and well-written books for young readers aged four to eight. The series broadcasts on Sundays at 11am and is also always available on the app and online rtejr.rte.ie/rtejr-listen
Grace’s World
Grace’s World, a new series begins on Early Birds on Monday 27th June. In this series of ten episodes, we see the world from the perspective of a 7 year old girl from Portlaoise called Grace. In this series, things are getting a little more serious for Grace, having to deal with Luke Skywalker looking old and grey, getting a tooth pulled at the dentist, and finding solace in a tree when a friend let’s you down.
Recorded over the space of 3 months, Grace continues to learn new things about the world including archery, First Class and what love really is because it doesn’t always have to be ‘kissy kissy’.
Grace’s World, on Early Birds, mornings 7am – 9am, RTEjr Radio
Online
Aswell as all our viewers’ usual favourites online, this Summer . RTÉjr have lots of callouts and giveaways on their facebook page for Grownups and don’t forget to join the RTÉjr bookclub on facebook for advice on what your little ones should be reading over the Summer holidays.
About RTÉJr
RTÉjr is a dedicated Irish children’s channel on TV, radio, online and mobile. Launched two years ago, this channel is part of public service broadcaster RTÉ’s strategy in the development of services for young people. Completely advertisement-free, the channel is specifically for children aged 0-7, allowing viewers to watch, listen and play with brand new channels on television and digital radio from around 7am to 7pm daily. RTÉjr also offers online and mobile services which allow children to access original, entertaining and educational content that reflects their lives and is made exclusively for them.
RTÉjr is RTÉs award-winning service designed specifically for youngsters aged under 7 and their older friends and family.
RTÉjr is available on 4 platforms – TV Saorview Channel 7 , Sky channel 624, Virgin channel 600. Digital Radio and Virgin channel 942; Online and Mobile. RTÉjr offers up to 34 hours of programmes for youngsters every day. RTÉjr is available on
RTÉjr is an entirely commercial-free service and offers a mixed schedule of original and acquired programming.
RTÉjr aims to explore and reflect the world in which youngsters in Ireland are growing up and to bring them entertaining, educational and relevant content wherever they are.
RTÉjr tells a wide range of stories about what it’s like to be a child through the eyes of the child.
‘Education by Stealth’ one of our mottos – every programme introduces an idea, a character or an issue to youngsters in ways which are age appropriate and which they will engage with.
RTÉjr content can be used to develop watching, listening and motor skills, develop new language skills, learn about the environment, nature, community and diversity within our island, explore places and lifestyles different to one’s own. There are opportunities for youngsters to interact with RTÉjr through our website and mobile App, and for their parents, guardians and teachers to engage with RTÉjr through the RTÉjr facebook page and twitter @rtejr