BIG BIG BAZAAR CHRISTMAS SHORTS
The Big Big Bazaar’s Reuben presents a series of fun Christmas Shorts this season on RTÉjr and TRTÉ.
The Big Big Singing Bus – Christmas Eve 24th Dec
On a Top Secret mission to spread some much-needed seasonal cheer, Reuben and his crack team of Christmas Agents plan a musical mystery tour-de-force, bringing the gift of song to the centre of Dublin from their “travelling stage” – an open-top bus. As we follow them throughout the day, all they have to do is find a bus, decorate it, recruit a choir & some musicians, decide on a song to sing and then rehearse it to perfection. With Reuben in charge, what could possibly go wrong!
Big Big Christmas Pranks – Christmas Day
What better way to celebrate December 25th than with Reuben and his gang of Yuletide pranksters, the Christmas Crackerz? Tricky tinsel, booby-trapped boxes and mean mince pies are the order of the day as the gang plan and execute a number of ‘hits’ designed with Christmas in mind. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid … no celebrity is safe – not even Santa Clause himself.
Reuben’s Big Big Races – Stephen’s Day 26th December
To help work off some of the turkey and plum pud, Reuben has organized a program of healthy exercise – as only he could! From the quiet village of Pettigo, Co. Donegal, he hosts four of wackiest races ever to grace St. Stephen’s Day, including The All Star Twinkly Granny Dash, and Santa’s Slippery Sliothar Sprint And keep your eyes peeled for the highlight of the day – the Yuletide Yoks!
ON THE BLOCK: ROAD TRIP
Christmas Day 25th Dec at 12.35pm on RTÉ Two
The award winning On The Block series returns with a new documentary this Christmas as rival On The Block young film clubs get up close and personal. The kids that took part in On The Block brought us deep into the communities of children from all over Ireland. Our young filmmakers learned filming and sound-recording techniques and used these skills to show us their worlds in their own words. As well as recording their own experience, these young filmmakers were keeping a close eye on one another.
The girls of Tory Island and Buckingham Street recognised a lot in each other, from musical taste to Hallowe’en bonfires, but were also intrigued by the huge differences in their worlds. Now they’ll meet face to face. They may only be 150 miles apart, but a five-hour bus journey and a one-hour ferry ride is no mean feat, particularly when tides and gale-force winds enter the equation. Nevertheless, they will brave the elements to see what they can learn from one another – from life in the Big Smoke to sheep-farming, roller-blading to set-dancing, youth theatre to sean-nós singing. Prepare for a culture clash like no other!
FLUFFY GARDENS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Christmas Day 25th Dec at 9.25am on RTÉ Two
This Christmas children will have another chance to enjoy the hugely popular Fluffy Gardens Christmas Special on RTÉjr. With just three days before Christmas, everyone in Fluffy Gardens is very excited! Paolo the Cat wraps himself up warm and walks through the snow into town to deliver his letter to Santa Claus. But, when he arrives, the post office is closed. All of the shops are closed too.
The penguins, who run everything in Fluffy Gardens, have disappeared! And that means Santa won’t get their letters and Christmas will be ruined. Paolo the Cat and his friends set off on a journey across Frosty Mountains to find the penguins – a journey that brings them to a special place nobody in Fluffy Gardens has ever seen before! Maybe there, they will find the penguins and make sure they all have the best Christmas ever!
WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?
Christmas Day 25th Dec at 11.40am on RTÉ Two
Stephens Day 26th Dec at 9.45am on RTÉ Two
TRTÉ’s hit series Who Are You Kidding? is a back for two new programmes this Christmas as presenter Brian Ormond introduces teenagers who are nominated by children to entertain a live 700-strong audience and face the assessment of four young, opinionated judges in singing, dancing and comedy challenges. The contestants perform in front of an audience of kids and a judging panel of four 9-11 year old young performers who are often hard-hitting in their assessments. Thrown in at the deep end he contestants must perform a song with the Who Are You Kidding? teenage rock band, join the Raw Edge dance crew to show off their moves and showcase their acting skills in an improv scenario.
THE BIG BIG BAZAAR: COOK OFF
Monday 27th Dec at 9.50am on RTÉ Two
The Big Big Bazaar is back but with a brand new twist this Christmas! In the first programme presenter Reuben travels to Lucan, County Dublin, where Lucan Harriers and Lucan Scouts are going head to head in a Big Big Cook off!
Two teams, boys versus girls, will each create, for one day, and one dinner only, their own ‘pop up’ restaurant, to serve up a delicious dinner to some special guests. The boys have chosen a Mexican theme, the girls have gone Gallic, and opted for French cuisine. Each invited guest will only be asked to pay what they think their dinner is worth – so the proof of this particular pudding is definitely in the eating! As usual, half the profits made by the losing team will be given to the winners, for a charitable cause of their choice.
THE BIG BIG BAZAAR: GAME ON
Tuesday 28th Dec at 9.45am on RTÉ Two
It’s off to Monaghan for The Big Big Bazaar ‘Game On!’ as local football club Drumlin Youths take on Donagh Community Games with both teams creating a very special event. There is a special twist however as local residents will be invited to attend, not a bazaar or auction, but a special games fair – with all the entertainments designed, created and presented by our two teams.
The fun will include the giant twisted penalty shoot, the ‘beat the ball’ run, the tights tug of war, and a human fruit machine to name but a few – the two teams hope to raise money for their chosen causes but will their games be good enough to persuade friends and neighbours to ‘pay to play?’ It’s ‘Game On’ on The Big Big Bazaar.
TEST THE TEACHERS
Beginning Stephens Day 26th Dec at approx 10.00am each day on RTÉ Two
In every classroom in the country, teachers are testing pupils – now it’s time to turn the tables and Test The Teachers. Can the teachers prove they are top of the class or will they flunk the grade? This Christmas sees the return of the successful inter school game show Test The teachers. Pupils and their classmates come up with questions, tasks and challenges to Test The Teachers from a rival school. Using skills and knowledge that the pupils have gained both in and out of school, they will Test The Teachers on everything from their sporting abilities and musical prowess, to their knowledge of European capital cities, famous presidents or Miley Cyrus songs!