RTÉjr
RTÉjr unveils its new schedule across TV, radio and digital for children this autumn
Ground-breaking series giving insight into autism leads off new programming
RTÉjr today announced its slate of young children’s programming for the new season, with documentaries, entertainment, comedy, and nature series across television, radio and digital featuring the stories and diverse experiences of young children from nearly every county in Ireland.
Sheila DeCourcy, RTÉ Group Head of Children’s & Channel Controller RTÉjr, said: ‘Bringing the voices of youngsters to viewers is important to us and this season we are delighted to bring the stories and diverse experiences of young children from nearly every county in Ireland to RTÉjr on TV, radio, online and mobile. We have a range of programming from documentaries and entertainment to education and drama with a lots of magic thrown in. And now, new features on the free RTÉjr APP means you and your little ones can enjoy RTÉjr wherever you are.’
Watch new season promo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDYGbb4p0iI&feature=youtu.be
Debuting next Monday on RTÉjr is Pablo, a ground-breaking new series, featuring a central character and cast who are all on the autism spectrum. A co-production with CBeebies and made with funding support from NI Screen and BAI, Pablo is a 52-episode live action and 2D animation series, which was created and produced by pioneering Belfast production company, Paper Owl Films. Animation services were provided by Kavaleer Productions in Dublin. It tells the story of a five-year-old boy on the autism spectrum who uses his creativity – and magic crayons – to invent an imaginary Art World filled with animal characters which help him make sense of social situations and process confusing or anxious thoughts and feelings. Pablo is based on the real life experiences of people with autism who contributed to the development and writing teams.
Life outdoors is a key theme on RTEjr this autumn: Filmed in beautiful woodland locations in Antrim, Down and Wicklow, Wildwoods is a new live-action puppet comedy series for 4 to 7 year-olds chronicling the unlikely friendship between a gentle giant sasquatch and a feisty pint-sized sugar glider. Meanwhile, in Mayo, Cork and Sligo, Showtime follows three young families as they prepare their animals for the local agricultural show and to showcase them under the spotlight of local competition. Educational series I’m a Fish will give children the chance to meet 52 different fish and crustaceans living under the sea and in fresh water.
Meanwhile indoors there’ll be fun and surprises on new series abraKIDabra, which features magician Joe Daly as he performs magic tricks before a live audience of children and then shows the viewers some of the secrets behind the tricks and how to do the tricks for themselves.
In The One Where Kids Talk! , a new series presented by children with Seamus the Dog, Irish kids give their opinions and advice on life’s big questions, saying it exactly how they see it, the unfiltered truth. They comment on today’s society through their own stories and offer advice on personal dilemmas to adults. Mr Mender & the Chummyjiggers is a bright and energetic scripted pre-school series which uses storytelling to convey core values of co-operation, sharing, problem solving and self awareness. The documentary series What Makes My Day returns, featuring children from Co Donegal, Kerry, Limerick, Louth, Kildare and Dublin welcoming us into their worlds introducing the people, activities and moments that are important to them.
Across the day, youngsters from all over Ireland give viewers an insight into their world in a new series of KIDSPEAK. Expect adventures in science, all kinds of sports and lots of animals amongst other things in this series of 150 vignettes.
On RTÉjr radio Short Stories from the Longest River are 12 original stories about the Shannon. From a duckling who saw the river’s beginning to the otter who swam with Brian Boru. Stories that are rich in highlighting our cultural heritage and the conservation issues that face the longest river in Ireland. In Ducks Down, children try out one of the games recorded in the Schools’ Manuscript Collection 80 years ago and give their verdict. Is there any chance that they might bin the batteries and switch off the screens in favor of playing Ducks Down and other games? On the new six part series Sports Special Patrick O’Reilly (11, from Dublin) meets a different Irish sports person each week and asks them about their training routines and the sacrifices they made as kids to reach their full potential. Patrick will interview athletes and sports people at the top of their game ranging from athletics, gaelic games, rugby and much more. Every morning between 7 and 9am, The Early Birds show aims to bring big smiles and loud laughs to our listeners. The show is presented by Ray, who is a lively and enthusiastic character. Each day he knocks the most fun possible out of his morning routines. And he simply cannot wait to share the next bit of music, jokes, stories and fun with his listeners, the ‘Rise n Shinies’. On Saturdays and Sundays between 2 and 5pm, Lisa Delaney joins the RTÉjr radio team with her new weekend show packed with party games, new dance moves and competitions together with some great music. On The Cosy Corner airing weekdays between 12.30 and 2pm, Sophie Dobson chooses the most relaxing music from all around the world to snooze to or just totally relax! Tune in for songs, meditations and lullabies to help little ones off to sleep.
On our free mobile RTÉjr APP we will have exclusive previews of upcoming shows, extra content created specially for the littlers and new features including playlists where your little ones can binge watch their favourite series.
Ends
For information: Anne-Louise Foley, Acting Communications Manager RTÉ Television, (01) 208 3298 / 085 1288911 / foleya@rte.ie
Notes to editor:
A selection of images the RTÉjr schedule, plus the Pablo launch today in Belfast, will be sent to picture desks.
Further information on shows:
PABLO (Pre-school: 52 x 11’00”; Paper Owl/ Kavaleer/ Animation and Live action)
PABLO is a 5½ year old boy who is on the autism spectrum. For Pablo simple day to day routine thing present challenges and he uses art, drawing pictures to work through his anxiety – the art world is where Pablo and his crayon characters animate and become the characters in a story which works through a similar challenge to the one facing Pablo.
Speaking at the launch today in Belfast, Grainne McGuinness, Creative Director at Paper Owl Films, said: “Every child will love Pablo. He’s funny and smart and has a terrific imagination which takes him on wonderfully colourful adventures, which young audiences will want to share. He also sees the world differently, and thinks and processes things differently. The series celebrates that difference, inviting viewers to see the world through the eyes of a child with autism, and to be enthralled and entertained by the view. The hope is to begin a new, more optimistic conversation about autism, and we want to thank NI Screen, BAI, CBeebies, RTÉjr. and everyone who shared an experience, wrote a story, acted, and otherwise played a part in getting Pablo onto our screens and into our homes, which is where, we believe, that new conversation should begin.”
Pauline MacNamara, executive producer RTÉJr added: ‘RTÉjr has been pleased to support and champion Pablo from development stage. It has been a long journey and we’re very excited to bring it to our viewers. Paper Owl’s, and in particular, Grainne’s commitment to enabling people with autism to tell their stories and bring an understanding of their perspective to all, has been as steely as it has been impressive. Pablo is funny, authentic and altogether charming and a welcome opportunity for RTÉjr to further exercise our mission to reflect the lives of all of our audiences.’
I’M A FISH (52 x 2’00”; Monster Entertainment/ Animation)
A chance to meet and learn about 52 different fish and crustaceans living under the sea and in fresh water around the world. These guys tell us all sorts of fun and interesting facts about where they live, what they do and how they survive in such deep, dark and sometimes dangerous places!
abraKIDabra (15 x 6’00”/ Macalla Teo)
The world of MAGIC! abraKIDabra features magician Joe Daly in a series of special routines designed especially for small children. In each programme, Joe will perform several tricks before a live audience of children and then he’ll show a small number of them exactly how to achieve another magic trick themselves, after which they’ll perform the trick for the other children.
- MENDER & THE CHUMMYJIGGERS(Pre-school: 26 x 11’00”/ Meangadh Fibín) (English and Irish language)
Mr Mender & the Chummyjiggers is a bright and energetic scripted preschool series which uses storytelling to convey core values of co-operation, sharing, problem solving and self awareness.
SHOWTIME (15 x 6’00”/ GMarshTV)
Showtime follows three young families in Mayo as they prepare their animals for the local agricultural show and to showcase them under the spotlight of local competition. Shane, Ronan and Samuel ready their prize calves, Caoilfhinn and Usna, their lambs and sheep, while Zara takes a different tack – she’s getting ready to compete with her pony in show jumping at the Headford Show.
WHAT MAKES MY DAY (Series 2; 10 x 10’00”/ Crossing the Line Films)
In each episode of this documentary series, a child welcomes us into their world introducing the people, activities and moments that are important to them. While each story features a child whose life includes a unique element which they are happy to share, the whole series illustrates just how diverse the world in which youngsters are growing up really is. Lilah (7 years old, Downings, Co. Donegal) is home schooled – the beach is her classroom and bodyboarding her PE class! Leah (7 years old, Tralee, Co. Kerry) loves picking periwinkles on the beach. She also has cerebral palsy and loves hosting tea parties; Mohammed (7 years old, Dublin) is spending his first summer in Dublin. He goes to the beach and attends summer camp where he learns Arabic and more about his religion Islam. Joseph (7 years old, from Limerick) has cerebral palsy and an assistance dog called Harvey who is the star attraction at his class ‘show and tell’. He also has loads of other pets and friends. Gaby (9) and Becky (7) (Drogheda, Co. Louth) love music and their family. They bake meat pies and attend Africa Day with their Dad. They also keep practicing Polish with their Mum. Caitlin (7 years old, Athy, Co. Kildare) learns sign language with her mum who is deaf. Caitlin and her family also love going for treasure hunts in the nearby forest.
WILDWOODS (Pre-school; 26×11’00”/ Sixteen South/ Puppets)
Produced by Belfast-based studio Sixteen South, and filmed in beautiful woodland locations in Wicklow, Antrim and Co Down, Wildwoods aims to encourage children to to take a digital break, rediscover the great outdoors and appreciate the wonder of nature. This comedy series is based around the adventures of an odd couple: city-boy Cooper, a sasquatch, and nature-loving Poppy, a sugar-glider. In each of the episodes, a simple task usually goes very wrong as Cooper’s sheltered indoor existence makes him ill-prepared for outdoor living.
THE ONE WHERE KIDS TALK! (Pre-school; 10×15’00”/ In- House- Ashling Fallon)
‘The One Where Kids Talk!’ is a child presenter led, TV show with Seamus the Dog. Irish kids give their opinions and advice on life’s big questions, saying it exactly how they see it, the unfiltered truth. The kids help solve adult personal dilemmas, they challenge adults to tricky interviews and comment on today’s society through their own stories.
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