Programme Description
Carrying on from the success of 3 charmingly entertaining series of the 12 minute programmes, we are back in the ever colourful Bright’s Park to join Séamus, Dr Tunes, Wild Guy, Clara, Mrs Owlington, Billy, Aoife and Alpha on a journey through their animated everyday lives where they use their unique skill sets to clear up complications, create magic, help others, have fun and save the day.
The series
Bright Sparks is an exciting drama series for children. With high onscreen production values, Bright Sparks invites its audience into this recognisable world to enjoy the bizarre blunders, funny exploits and courageous adventures of its residences in Bright’s Park.
Each of our characters adds a little something special to every episode. Successful storylines so far have engaged and educated children while dealing with issues such as lack of confidence, friendship, self-belief, exclusion, the importance of kindness, the power of imagination and much more… while always providing pure entertainment at the heart of every episode.
The Bright Sparks’ characters – played by puppets, animated characters & human actors – each embody a different type of intelligence, a core personality trait. Each character is the hero of their own episode and children watching will see themselves and their own special abilities reflected in at least one of them. Our characters are: MRS OWLINGTON: Existential/spiritual intelligence. SÉAMUS: Visual-spatial intelligence. ALPHA: Verbal-linguistic intelligence. WILD GUY: Naturalistic intelligence. CLARA: Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. DR TUNES: Musical-rhythmic and harmonic intelligence. BILLY: Logical-mathematical intelligence. AOIFE: Interpersonal intelligence.
The enhancement of Bright Sparks in its fourth installment is made possible by its core creative team, whom have a wealth of experience in producing high-quality content for RTÉjr. On-screen, the combined skills of Ray Cuddihy, Clara Murray, John Sharpson, Aisling Reid and more include production, performance, presentation and puppetry – all of which are vital in producing high-quality children’s content. In addition, Bright Sparks is notable for featuring young talents such as Linda Furhmann and Aidan McCann. The perfect mix of our production team’s experience combined with the skill of our on-screen talent ensures that Bright Sparks continues to light up the screens and minds of young viewers.
In recent years we have seen the rise of their stars. Characters such as Séamus, John (Wild Guy) and Clara have appeared in many RTÉ productions but none more successful than Home School Hub. Originally a creation of RTÉ, Séamus has become a household name alongside the múinteoirí on the Hub. The capability Séamus has to tackle subjects, big or small – to interview the biggest names in Ireland with questions such as “Who are you?’ is like having a superpower for talking to smallies.
In this new series, our storylines are more vibrant, more captivating, livelier and lovelier than ever. We continue to focus on the message of teamwork and collaboration and promote the universal message of ‘doing good’ while going about your day. With pace, style, messaging and tone, we have created a series to rival any successful children’s series around the world.
This series follows stories such as… The Further Adventures of Sherlock Bones… and ‘The Runaway Hamster’ as Séamus’ friend Harry goes missing. After hearing what he’s convinced is the sound of a mysterious animal from long ago, Wild Guy’s new obsession with Dinosaurs causes havoc. Aoife and Séamus fall asleep and have the strangest, yet sweetest, dream. While rehearsing for a new play, hilarity ensues as Clara decides to spend a day in the life of each of her friends as she practices playing different parts. Billy is going to his first summer camp and is nervous about being away from home and in unfamiliar surroundings – but his friends are quick to help him realise he’s worrying for no reason at all. Aoife might have a little something to do with Wild Guy and Séamus getting swept away to an unknown (magical) land where they go on an adventure (taking the route of a yellow brick road) where they meet some familiar faces who lack a little courage, brain and heart. The gang uncover more of Mrs O’s eccentricity as she reveal her fear of water and Séamus’ comical game of ‘Séamus Says’ creates havoc on the estate as he makes up his own rules and things go awry…
This series also sees some familiar faces stopping by Mrs O’s coffee shop for a brief chat with Séamus. People such as Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane, Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly, international diver Oliver Dingley, Media star & presenter James Patrice, Environmentalists The Useless girls and Author Dave Rudden all stop by to offer help, advice or just for fun with our number one pup, Séamus. You just never know who you’re gonna meet in Bright Sparks.
RTÉjr – Weekdays from 19th of Sep@ 10:00, 13:00 & 16:00
RTÉ 2– Weekdays from the 19th of Sep @ 11.15am
Synopsis 1-15
1 – Jurassic Tall Tales
SHORT: Wild Guy lets his imagination run WILD when he convinces himself (and others) that there are some ginormous visitors in Bright’s Park.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Wild Guy’s day goes from juicy to loopy when he hears some noises that send his imagination WILD. He’s not long convincing both himself and some of his friends that there are some ginormous Dinosaurs visiting Bright’s Park.
2 – Sherlock Bones & The Cheeky Chalkster
SHORT: Séamus resumes the role of Sherlock Bones to help Mrs O find out who is playing chalky tricks.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Billy makes a new artist friend while Séamus resumes the role of Sherlock Bones to help Mrs Owlington find out who is playing tricks on her on the shops’ chalk boards.
3 – Camp Sparks
SHORT: Billy is worried he was going to miss all his friends and family when he goes to camp so his friends thought of a way to cheer him up.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Billy is not his cheery self as he worries he’s going to miss all his friends and family when he goes to summer camp. With dreary weather to match the mood, it’s not long before Mrs Owlington helps the others think of ways to cheer him up.
4 – Drama, Drama, Drama
SHORT: It’s another dramatic day in Bright’s park as Clara confuses everyone while practising for her new drama group.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, it’s another dramatic day. Clara makes some new friends on the green and manages to confuse everyone else while practising with some funny props for her new drama performance.
5 – Café Hoots
SHORT: Wild Guy bites off a little more than he could chew running the shop for Mrs O …but luckily, his friends are there to help.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Wild Guy agrees to run the shop for Mrs Owlington while she’s away for the day but very soon realises he has bitten off more than he can chew… Luckily, his friends Séamus and Aoife are happy to help.
6 – Séamus Says…
SHORT: Séamus takes a game of ‘Séamus Says…’ with his friends a little too far.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Séamus is tired of humans telling dogs what to do so he decides to take a game of ‘Séamus Says…’ with his friends a little too far.
7 – The Queen of Treats
SHORT: Aoife and Séamus both fall asleep and have the same strange dream.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Séamus and Aoife fall asleep while preparing an afternoon tea for all their friends. While asleep, both have a very strange dream in which they learn that treats come in all shapes and sizes.
8 – Runaway Hamster
SHORT: When Séamus’s friend Harry the Hamster goes missing, Aoife decides to have a little fun.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Séamus’ friend Harry the Hamster goes missing and he resumes the role of Sherlock Bones to try and find him. Aoife the fairy soon realises that there’s an opportunity to have a little fun.
9 – Sparking Joy
SHORT: Aoife teaches the gang to give their old stuff a new home at Dr Tunes Yard Sale.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Aoife is tired of cleaning up a messy Bright Sparks house so she encourages the gang to give their old, unused things a new home at Dr Tunes Yard Sale. Séamus struggles to part with one particular item.
10 – Dream Team
SHORT: As Wild Guy and Clara battle it out for the tv remote – but this is a battle of a very different kind.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, when Clara challenges Wild Guy to a duel, the gang learn how to play Hurling and Camogie, and how Cú Chulainn got his name.
11 – Forever Young
SHORT: Aoife takes Dr Tunes on a magical journey through the years to show her how much fun being young really is.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, when Dr Tunes feels like it’s no fun being young, Aoife
Takes her on a magical journey through the years to show her how much fun being young really is.
12 – Water Fight
SHORT: When Bright’s Park gets hit with some very hot weather, Aoife has a surprise for the gang that will cool them down.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, the hot weather has everybody in a flap. When Aoife surprises the gang with a pool in the garden to help them cool down, the group learn something they never knew about Mrs Owlington. With a little support and encouragement, the gang help Mrs O face her fears and have lots of fun. Page Break
13 – The Clubhouse
SHORT: With everyone in disagreement about what type of Clubhouse they’d like, Aoife comes up with a solution.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Mrs Owlington calls a meeting to discuss the new Clubhouse. It’s not long before disagreements over the use of the Clubhouse begin and it causes a divide in the group. We watch as the group all go their separate ways before learning about compromise.
14 – Ready, Steady, Go-Kart!
SHORT: It’s race day on the green and with the help of his friends, Séamus builds his own Go-Kart to take part.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, it’s race day in Bright’s Close and everyone is preparing for the big race. After a chat with Mrs O, a blueprint from Alpha and some help from Clara and Wild Guy, Séamus builds his very own go-kart and takes part.
15 – Oz
SHORT: Wild Guy and Séamus are taken on a magical adventure by Aoife the fairy who shows them there’s no place like home.
LONG: In today’s episode of Bright Sparks, Wild Guy and Séamus chat to Billy who’s off on his holidays in Australia or as some call it… ‘Oz’. After wishing they too were in Oz, Aoife takes them on a magical adventure and shows them there’s no place like home.