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Dustin the Turkey

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Dustin the Turkey

Dustin the Turkey, is an Irish television puppet and star of RTÉ's The Den since 1989.[1] A "turkey vulture" with a strong Dublin accent, Dustin is one of a handful of Irish puppet characters on Irish television and may be the most well-known of these, having achieved international recognition. 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 moved to radio, Ian Dempsey, Ray D'Arcy, Damien McCaul and Francis Boylan Jr., making him the longest serving performer on The Den and one of Irish popular culture's iconic figures. Dustin has won many achievements, 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] In 2008 he was in London making an appearance on ITV talent contest X factor's extra show.[3]

Dustin is voiced by Sean Reidy, brother of Shaun and Derek (who voices one of Zig and Zag, and toddlers' favourite, Soky the sock monster, respectively).[4]

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 performs off-screen including an annual appearance on The Late Late Show Toy Show special at Christmas where he made fun of the show's former regular host Pat Kenny, as he did with the previous host, Gay Byrne. More recently he has turned his attention to 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.[5]

File:RTÉ The Late Late Toy Show Dustin Gifts Gay Byrne Pat Kenny Clock.jpg
Dustin gifts Gay Byrne a Pat Kenny clock on The Late Late Toy Show.

Also an ex student of Drimnagh Castle Secondary School.

Other television appearances

Dustin appeared as a guest in the 1997 Christmas Day special The Boyz are Back, starring the pop group Boyzone.[6]

The Late Late Toy Show

Dustin appears regularly on the annual The Late Late Toy Show's Christmas show. His appearances are for comic effect and have often taken hosts Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny by surprise. The two hosts have been ridiculed, with Dustin infamously presenting former host Byrne with a Pat Kenny clock on the show on one occasion, years before Kenny took over as Byrne's replacement. However, Dustin did not appear on the 2008 Toy Show.

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 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".

Singles

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"Christmas Tree"
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"32 Counties"
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"Irelande Douze Pointe"
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Albums

Eurosong and Eurovision 2008

Main article: Eurosong 2008
Dustin the Turkey in the first semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Originally the favourite to win, [citation needed] Dustin was chosen by the Irish viewers at Eurosong to represent Ireland in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the first puppet to do so.[7] Though it was not announced on the Eurosong show how many votes Dustin won, an RTÉ radio show later revealed that the second place had an average of 15 points, while Dustin had 23, so the public really did want to send a puppet 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 panellist 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".[8] The song contained, amongst other things, references to Riverdance ("Give us another chance, we're sorry for Riverdance!").[8] Dustin failed to progress beyond the Eurovision semi-final.[9]

Political career

Dustin has often declared his interest in politics. He has campaigned in two presidential elections. He competed as Dustin Hoffman in the 1997 presidential election as both forename and surname were necessary to register.[citation needed] Returning Officers received votes spoiled with his name in more recent elections. He received some support but many of those ballots 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)[10] 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). He has recently showed interest in becoming the president of America.

Personal life

Dustin is a fan of the Dublin GAA team. Dustin's favourite band is Republic of Loose.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Fowl Eurovision entry for Ireland". BBC News. 2008-02-24. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  2. ^ "Irish Turkey Roasted In Belgrade". Sky News. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  3. ^ The Xtra Factor on 22 November 2008
  4. ^ "Dustin's TV company denies its turkey's goose is cooked". Irish Independent. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-11-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Dustin's Daily News. RTÉ. (Retrieved 17 June 2007)
  6. ^ "RTE fights back in Christmas cracker". Irish Independent. 1997-12-11. Retrieved 2008-12-20. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Ireland gets its Eurovision Turkey". RTE. 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  8. ^ a b "Riverdance: Is this the end of the line?". Toronto Star. 2009-05-14. Retrieved 2009-05-17. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Ireland dumped out of Eurovision". BBC. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  10. ^ "Dustin the Turkey's Eurovision aim". BBC News. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  11. ^ The band performed their single "I Like Music" on Dustin's The Once a Week Show on 5 April 2008. The episode may be viewed here.
Preceded by Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
2008 		Succeeded by
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