Dustin the Turkey

Dustin the Turkey
Dustin the Turkey in 2008
First appearanceThe Den (1989)
Last appearanceThe Den (2020)
Portrayed byJohn Morrison
In-universe information
SpeciesTurkey
OccupationCowboy Builder, Singer, TV presenter
AffiliationUNICEF
OriginDublin, Ireland

Dustin the Turkey, a character performed by John Morrison[1] is a former star of RTÉ television's The Den between 1989 and 2010 and from 2020.[2] He has been described as "the most subversive comedy force on Irish television".[3]

A turkey vulture with a strong Dublin accent hailing from Sallynoggin,[4][5] Dustin first appeared on The Den with Zig and Zag in December 1989, but remained there after their 1993 departure to Channel 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 to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Irelande Douze Pointe", though he did not progress past the first semi-final stage.[8]

  1. ^ "The birdman of Belgrade". Irish Independent. March 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Fowl Eurovision entry for Ireland". BBC News. 24 February 2008. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference endurance_no_turkey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Den and now: Ray, Dustin and Zig & Zag to reunite on new entertainment show". RTÉ. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  5. ^ Berry, Darragh (17 July 2020). "Who is Ste Brown? 'Noggin' rapper starts beef with Dustin The Turkey and unleashes curry chip baguette roll secret on world in exclusive FM104 interview". Dublin Live. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  6. ^ Corless, Damian (1 March 2008). "The birdman of Belgrade". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
  7. ^ Brian Boyd (9 February 2008). "Turkey - douze points". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2018. the ever-popular turkey-vulture amalgam
  8. ^ "Irish Turkey Roasted in Belgrade". Sky News. 21 May 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2008.