Dustin the Turkey

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Dustin The Turkey
Background information
Born	1 December 1989
Origin	Dublin, Ireland
Occupation(s)	Singer, TV presenter
Years active	1989–present

Dustin the Turkey, is a popular Irish television personality and star of RTÉ's The Den since 1989.^[1] A "turkey vulture" with a strong Dublin accent, Dustin is part of a dynastial generation of Irish television characters and is, arguably, the most well-known of these, having achieved recognition on an intercontinental level. Dustin joined The Den with puppets Zig and Zag, but remained with the show after their 1993 departure to Channel 4. He also outlasted four human co-hosts, all of whom now have radio careers of varying degrees of success: Ian Dempsey, Ray D'Arcy, Damien McCaul and Francis Boylan Jr., making him the longest serving member of the on-screen cast of The Den and one of Ireland's popular culture's iconic figures. Throughout his career, Dustin has achieved a number of feats, including a musical career with several chart-topping singles. On 23 February 2008, Dustin won the public vote to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Irelande Douze Pointe" but failed to progress past the first semi-final stage.^[2] He was recently in London making an appearance on ITV talent contest X factor's extra show, The Xtra Factor on 22 November 2008.

Dustin is voiced by Johnny Morrison, brother of Ciaran and Joe (who voices one of Zig and Zag, and toddlers' favourite, Soky the sock monster, respectively).^[3]

Contents 1 Character history 2 Other television appearances 2.1 The Late Late Toy Show 3 Music 3.1 Singles 3.2 Albums 3.3 Eurosong and Eurovision 2008 4 Political career 5 Personal life 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Character history

Dustin was introduced as a character when one of the puppets, Zag, who was trying to join the upper classes, entered a golf tournament with Ronan Collins and came last. The prize was a Christmas Turkey, and a chance to meet movie star Dustin Hoffman. It transpired however, that the turkey shared the name of the movie star and was not only still alive, but had a Dublin accent and his own building company. Zig and Zag intended to eat Dustin for Christmas dinner, and only changed their minds when a frequent visitor to the show, artist and children's novelist Don Conroy, provided his taxonomical opinion that Dustin was, in fact a cross between a turkey and a vulture, and therefore unsuitable for consumption.^{[citation needed]}

He makes appearances outside of The Den, including an annual appearance on The Late Late Show Toy Show special at Christmas where he makes fun of the show's regular host Pat Kenny, as he did with the previous host, Gay Byrne. More recently he has turned his attention to the many other Irish television personalities, including Eddie Hobbs, Ryan Tubridy and Derek Mooney.^{[citation needed]}

In September 2005, after 15 years at the helm of The Den, Dustin received his own television show, DDN - Dustin's Daily News. DDN was a mock newsroom style show where current affairs were intersperced by a plot by rival broadcaster Martin Duck to take over the show.^[4]

Also an ex student of Drimnagh Castle Secondary School.

[edit] Other television appearances

Dustin appeared as a guest in the 1997 Christmas Day special The Boyz are Back, starring the pop group Boyzone.^[5]

[edit] The Late Late Toy Show

Dustin is a regular appearee on the annual The Late Late Toy Show. His appearances are for comic effect and have often taken hosts Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny by surprise. The two hosts have regularly been ridiculed by Dustin, with Dustin infamously gifting former host Byrne with a Pat Kenny clock on the show one year, ironically just years before Kenny took over as Byrne's permanent replacement. However Dustin did not receive his usual spot on the 2008 Toy Show for reasons unknown.

[edit] Music

He released his Greatest Hits album in 2001, which also featured two new songs, a Christmas version of Bruce Channel's "Hey Baby", called "Hey Santa", and a dance remix of "Sweet Caroline". On November 4, 2005, he released his first new single for 4 years, "Patricia the Stripper", a duet with Chris de Burgh aka Christy Burger. On November 11, 2005, he then released a new album, also his first for 4 years, called Bling When You're Minging.

These albums have featured backing vocals from many Irish stars including Bob Geldof, Boyzone and the late Joe Dolan. Many of his songs are parodies of either folk songs or well known chart hits from across the decades. He famously made the news in Britain in December 1996 when he was number one in Ireland with his songs "Christmas Tree" and "Rat Trap" (a cover version of The Boomtown Rats song which he sang with Bob Geldof, and made fun of him throughout), when in just about every other country the Christmas number one spot went to the Spice Girls with their song "2 Become 1".

[edit] Singles

• (1990) "The Christmas No. 1" (Zig and Zag feat. Dustin the Turkey) (IE #1)
• (1993) "Numb"
• (1994) "Spanish Lady" (feat. Ronnie Drew and The Saw Doctors) (IE #1)
• (1996) "Rat Trap" (with Bob Geldof) (IE #1)
• (1996) "Christmas Tree"

	"Christmas Tree"
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• (1997) "Good Lookin' Woman" (with Joe Dolan) (IE #1)
• (1997) "Fairytale of New York" (with Dervla Kirwan)
• (1999) "32 Counties" (IE #1)

	"32 Counties"
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• "Christmas in Dublin"
• (2001) "Sweet Caroline" (IE #1)
• (2005) "Patricia the Stripper" (with Chris de Burgh) (IE #3)
• "True Christmas"
• "Fields of Athenry"
• "Harrell is a Lonely Dustin"
• (2008) "Irelande Douze Pointe" (IE #5)

	"Irelande Douze Pointe"
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[edit] Albums

• Not Just A Pretty Face
• Dustin: Unplucked
• Faith Of Our Feathers
• Poultry In Motion
• Dustin's Greatest Hits
• Bling When You're Minging (2005)

[edit] Eurosong and Eurovision 2008

Originally the favourite to win, Dustin was chosen by the Irish People in a Public Vote at Eurosong to represent Ireland in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the first puppet to do so.^[6] Though it wasn't announced on the Eurosong show how many votes Dustin got from the public, an RTÉ radio show later announced the scores, revealing that the second place had an average of 15 points, while Dustin had 23, which shows that the public really did want to send a turkey to Eurovision. Despite it being a public vote, there was a mixed reaction from the live studio audience when the result was announced, including many audible boos. A panelist on the programme, former Eurovision winner Dana, stated that Ireland would be better withdrawing from the competition than sending Dustin. Despite her lack of support, past Irish Eurovision entries Dickie Rock and Maxi stated their beliefs that Dustin could win.

Dustin performed his song in the first semi-final on 20 May and "brought down the house".^[7] The song contained, amongst other things, references to Riverdance ("Give us another chance, we're sorry for Riverdance!").^[7] Dustin failed at qualifying to the final during the Eurovision semi-final and therefore he did not appear in the Eurovision final for the year 2008.^[8]

[edit] Political career

Dustin has on numerous occasions declared an interest in politics. In the past, he has run campaigns for a number of presidential elections. He ran under the name 'Dustin Hoffman' in the 1997 Presidential Elections as both forename and surname were necessary to register.^{[citation needed]} Returning Officers received votes spoiled with his name in more recent elections. He has received some support but many of the ballots supporting him were also spoiled. In his mock campaigns, he ran as a representative of "Fianna Fowl" (a play on Ireland's largest political party Fianna Fáil)^[9] and also of the 'Poultry Party'. His campaign manifestos have included promising "to bring the DART to Dingle", as well as making sure every young boy in Ireland got to go on a date with the Spice Girl of their choice (later Pussycat Doll).

[edit] Personal life

Dustin's favourite band is Republic of Loose.^[10]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• RTÉ Entertainment: Dustin is among Eurosong finalists
• Eurovision.tv: Dustin the Turkey in Irish national final?

v • d • e The Den Presenters Afternoon Ian Dempsey  · Ray D'Arcy  · Damien McCaul  · Francis Boylan, Jnr.  · Kathryn McKiernan Den AM/Tots Geri Maye  · Emma O'Driscoll javascript:collapseTable(0); Characters Dustin  · Podge and Rodge  · Zig and Zag  · Full list Other contributors Don Conroy  · Simon Young DVDs Best Bitz From Back Den Music Dustin discography  · Zig and Zag discography Spin-off shows 2Phat  · A Scare at Bedtime  · Dustin's Daily News  · The Once a Week Show The Podge and Rodge Show (Episodes)  · Socky's Big Little Morning Show Related 2007 Meteor Awards (hosted by Podge and Rodge)  · Eurovision Song Contest 2008 (contested by Dustin with "Irelande Douze Pointe")

v • d • e The All Ireland Talent Show Series 1 Hosts Gráinne Seoige · Will Leahy · Dustin the Turkey Judges John Creedon · Shane Lynch · Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh · Dáithí Ó Sé · Dana Rosemary Scallon Winner Mulkerrin Brothers Runner-up Jack Lynch

Preceded by Dervish

Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Succeeded by Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy