| Dustin the Turkey | |
|---|---|
 Dustin the Turkey in 2008 | |
| First appearance | Dempsey's Den (1989) |
| Last appearance | Eurovision Song Contest (2023) |
| Portrayed by | John Morrison |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Turkey |
| Occupation | Cowboy builder, singer, TV presenter |
| Affiliation | UNICEF |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
Dustin the Turkey, a character performed by John Morrison[1] is a former star ofRTÉ television'sThe Den between 1989 and 2010 and from 2020.[2] He has been described as "the most subversive comedy force on Irish television".[3]
Aturkey vulture with a strongDublin accent hailing fromSallynoggin,[4][5] Dustin first appeared onThe Den withZig and Zag in December 1989, but remained there after their 1993 departure toChannel 4.[6][7] He also outlasted four human co-hosts, all of whom moved to radio:Ian Dempsey,Ray D'Arcy,Damien McCaul and Francis Boylan Jr.
Dustin has also had a successful music career with chart-topping singles in his native land. At one stage he even managed an Irish dance/pop group, Silvor. He won the public vote torepresent Ireland at theEurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Irelande Douze Pointe", though he did not progress past the first semi-final stage.[8]
Dustin released hisGreatest Hits album in 2001. On 4 November 2005, he released his first new single for four years, "Patricia the Stripper", a duet withChris de Burgh a.k.a. Christy Burger. On 11 November 2005, he then released a new album, also his first for four years, titledBling When You're Minging (a play on the title ofRobbie Williams' 2000 albumSing When You're Winning).
These albums featured backing vocals from many Irish stars includingRonnie Drew,Bob Geldof,Boyzone and the lateJoe Dolan. Many of his songs are parodies of either folk songs or well known chart hits from across the decades.
Originally the favourite to win, Dustin was chosen by the Irish viewers atEurosong torepresent Ireland in the2008 Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the first puppet to do so.[11] 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 winnerDana, 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. The song contained, among other things, references toRiverdance ("Give us another chance, we're sorry for Riverdance!") andMichael Flatley ("Sure Flatley he's a yank").[12] Dustin failed to progress beyond the Eurovision semi-final.[13]
Dustin has often declared his interest in politics. He has campaigned in two presidential elections. He competed asDustin Hoffman in the1997 presidential election as both forename and surname were necessary to register.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 partyFianna Fáil)[14] and also of the 'Poultry Party'. His campaign manifestos have included promising "to bring theDART toDingle", as well as making sure every young boy in Ireland got to go on a date with theSpice Girl orPussycat Doll of their choice and industrialising all of Ireland's rural areas, while ruralising everywhere else.
His strongly-heldrepublican views led him to publicly confront former colleagues Zig and Zag on2Phat's 1998 Christmas Special. During the live broadcast he angrily denounced them for 'selling out tothe Queen' and verbally abused both them and co-host Ray D'Arcy.[15]
He has also led the campaign group SOLD ("StampOutLineDancing").[16]
Dustin made a film titledDustin in Fowl Play in 2002. In this film, he and his friend, Snotser, put together a boy band called Mankind featuring band members Simon Murphy, Paul Barry, Ronan McDonald, John McCall and Chris Miller. In 2008, he made an appearance on BritishITV showThe Xtra Factor.[18]
In 2009, Dustin was the subject of the documentaryDustin: 20 Years a Pluckin'.[3]
In June 2012, he made an appearance onThe Late Late Show 50th anniversary special.[19]
He presented the TV3 toy show withLucy Kennedy on 2 December 2016.[20]
Dustin the Turkey has been an Ambassador forUNICEF Ireland since late 2009 and visited theKwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, where he found out at firsthand the impact ofHIV/AIDS on communities and children and ways that UNICEF is working to help very young children cope.[21]
In May 2023, Dustin the Turkey made an appearance in the first semi-final ofEurovision Song Contest 2023 inLiverpool, England.
the ever-popular turkey-vulture amalgam
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
