The new Irish children's show helping little ones feel ready for Big School
If you’ve got a small person in the house who’s about to start Junior Infants, you’ll know the particular cocktail of emotions that comes with it. Excitement, yes. But also nerves, questions, the odd meltdown about not wanting to wear the new shoes. Starting school is a big deal — for them and for you — and a new Irish children’s series arriving on RTÉ next week is speaking directly to those big feelings in the loveliest way.
Bellie and Whizz at Big School is set to air on RTÉ KIDSjr from Monday 24 August, weekdays at 9:55am with a repeat at 1:50pm. The full series box set will also be available on RTÉ Player after the first episode airs — which, let’s be honest, is the detail most of us actually need.
Meet Bellie the Badger and Whizz the Hare
The show follows puppet duo Bellie the Badger and Whizz the Hare as they navigate the world of Big School alongside their forest pals — Fia Fox, Ruby Rabbit, Barry Beaver, Jimmy Rat, Martina Pine Marten and Mrs Hedgehog. Each of the 12 episodes tackles something new that little ones might encounter when starting primary school: first-day jitters, making friends, managing those overwhelming feelings that are hard to name at four or five years old.
Each episode works through its topic via lively discussion and play with the forest gang at the den, then wraps it all up with a song or rhyme to help it stick. It’s structured in a way that feels genuinely thoughtful rather than just ticking boxes — the kind of children’s content that earns a bit of quiet time on the sofa for you too.
The series was produced by GMarsh TV for RTÉjr in association with Coimisiún na Meán, filmed at Telegael Studios in Galway with post-production handled by Egg Post Production in Dublin. It’s an entirely Irish production, which is always worth celebrating.
The voices behind the puppets
Bringing Bellie and Whizz to life are voice actors and puppeteers Ray Cuddihy, known for Séamus Goes Wild, and Gráinne Bleasdale, who worked on the Irish language version of Bluey. The characters have been crafted with real personality — the kind that children latch onto quickly and want to revisit. Each episode also features real children from around Ireland, so young viewers will hear familiar accents and see themselves reflected on screen.
Why the timing matters
The series lands at exactly the right moment. Schools across Ireland return in the first week of September, which means families have a couple of weeks to introduce Bellie and Whizz before the big day actually arrives. If your child is anxious about starting school — or even if they seem fine but you suspect there’s something simmering under the surface — this is the kind of gentle, warm content that can open up a conversation without feeling like a lecture.
Children’s television that takes emotional literacy seriously without being heavy-handed is genuinely hard to get right. From what RTÉ is describing, Bellie and Whizz at Big School sounds like it’s found that balance.
Bellie and Whizz at Big School starts on RTÉ KIDSjr on Monday 24 August at 9:55am, with a repeat at 1:50pm. The full box set will be available on RTÉ Player after the first episode airs.