Journalism Den The Dengineers

-I'm Mark.

-And I'm Lauren.

-And this is The Dengineers.

The show that puts you in charge of building your very own dream den.

Dens for adventure.

Hello, trap door!

Hanging out with your friends and family.

This den is the best thing ever.

And dens built to fulfil your dreams.

-It's more than he could ever have wanted.

-Oh, Mum, listen...

Whatever your ideas, The Dengineers' team are here

to transform your inspiration into amazing spaces.

Built especially for you.

ALL: This den is done!

Hello!

CHILDREN SHOUT

Yes, you, Lola.

Let's do it.

That's epic!

-Really happy.

-It's amazing.

We've gone back to school to surprise today's Dengineer.

And it won't be long until she arrives in this very classroom,

completely unaware that she is going to get her dream den.

-Exactly, so me and you had better get out of here.

-Come on.

Today's Dengineer is 11-year-old Soibi from Manchester.

I'd like to be a journalist, but in order to achieve my dreams,

I'll need some help from The Dengineers.

Soibi absolutely loves the news.

She loves reading.

-Writing.

-Even watching it.

She loves North West Tonight news.

She literally gets us to watch the news and, when it's not possible,

she records them.

Soibi uses her journalist skills to write regular

newsletters for her local church.

In this issue, need a big impact of power?

Well, you've come to the right place.

Soibi is very important to the community.

She's gifted, she's very creative.

This publication, it shows that she's got a great future.

Soibi works on her research and writing whenever she can,

but that's not always easy to do.

She shares a bedroom with her three-year-old sister and, yes,

that's nice sometimes, but I think other times Soibi needs her own

space to focus and finish an activity.

She's really sacrificed her time and herself,

and she really deserves to have something special.

There's no-one I can think of that needs or deserves it more than her.

Don't worry, Soibi.

Our help is exactly what you're going to get.

You've just got no idea that we are about to hit you with the surprise

-of your life.

-Thank you so much for listening.

Goodbye.

So, for this hit, we've called in the help of our CBBC chums -

-Newsround - and they've lent us Ricky.

-Hello!

-Hey, Ricky.

-How are you doing?

-Good.

Now, Ricky, Soibi is in a lesson right now, and her class think that

you're coming here to talk to them about the news.

-Right.

-But we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to announce

Newsround's newest presenters - hey, hey.

-Right...

-Now obviously, Ricky,

we're not actually Newsround's new presenters.

Your job's safe. We're actually here to talk Dengineers.

-We're too busy building dens for that.

-Makes a lot more sense.

-Let's do it. Are you ready to do it?

-Yeah.

-Let's go.

The Dengineers' team have been mega-busy,

fitting hidden cameras throughout the classroom and, bang on time,

Soibi and Co arrive for their lesson.

If we get spotted, this is game over.

This is one of the most risky ones we've done.

Now it's over to Ricky to begin Operation Surprise Soibi.

Ricky, you're up.

Hey, guys.

How are you doing? Who watches Newsround maybe, like, every day?

You do. What's your name?

-Soibi.

-And what is it about Newsround you like?

It's, like, from...for kids.

Quick, ah, we almost got spotted then.

And do you like some of the presenters?

Who's your favourite presenter? Yes!

Everything is set.

It's time for the huge and totally fictional CBBC announcement.

We are going to reveal two brand-new Newsround presenters.

-So shall we go and get them?

-PUPILS: Yeah.

Fantastic, let's do it.

Hello, hello.

Hi there. So we're not actually Newsround's new presenters.

That was a bit of a trick. Ricky's been having you on.

My name's Lauren. This is Mark.

We're from CBBC's The Dengineers.

We're actually looking for Soibi.

And there you are. How are you doing, Soibi?

LAUGHTER

-You feeling OK?

-Not really.

Well, we've heard that you love the news

and one day you want to become a journalist. Is that correct?

-Yeah.

-And we've heard that you need some space to do your research,

to prepare your reports.

Is that about right?

-Yeah.

-So you should be happy to know that you're going to be leaving with

us to get ready to build your very own dream den.

-No, this is a dream.

-Give her a round of applause, everyone!

APPLAUSE

Go, Soibi!

Let's go!

I feel like I'm in a dream because I didn't really know

that it would happen. Also, I'm really shocked

and I'm really anxious to know what's going to happen next.

I felt overwhelmed for Soibi,

because she looked like she was dead happy,

so I'm dead like happy for her.

This has been the coolest thing that's ever happened in school.

Our first port of call is The Dengineers' mobile HQ,

which has some mega-cool technology to get this den rolling.

Soibi, in here is where we download all of the ideas that you've got in

your head onto this massive computer.

You're the boss of your den, so anything you see on here, grab it.

-Oh, she's straight in there. Look at that.

-Oh, wow!

So tell us what's the idea of your den?

It's going to be like a mini studio for me, like,

to do my reports and then also a work space

so I can make the reports.

So what else on here, Soibi, do you like?

A green screen because, say you want to do weather or

make a picture behind you, something that you're reporting about.

Oh, perfect.

Maybe that could go on top.

Maybe on top. That would be a cool idea.

That is a good idea.

Why have you chosen the bookshelves and the books?

Because I have lots of files

in my room and there's nowhere to keep them.

Me and my sister, because I share a room with her and sometimes she'll

come up to me and ask me to play a game with her,

but I want to do my report, so it'll be nice to have some space.

We love little sisters and brothers, but also you need your own space.

So there you have it, the den.

-Come on then, let's get this den done.

-Let's do it.

Soibi has decided on a new studio look for her den,

complete with a satellite dish,

loads of storage for her research and a green screen to film her

reports against.

It's time to meet the designer who's going to make Soibi's den

headline news.

-But who will it be?

-Meet Olga.

She's a specialist in creating mega-cool dens and can make

the smallest of spaces look totally awesome.

She has all the skills to make this den a journalist's dream.

So, Olga, tell us what have we got to look forward to?

I'm planning to build your own news studio in this garden.

Are you serious, Olga? You're going to make an entire studio?

Yeah, why not? I was thinking to make it in the shape of a big telly.

-Wow.

-Wow is a good reaction.

I like that a lot.

So I was told you'd like something on the top of your den.

-Yeah.

-What is that?

-It's a satellite.

-Something like that?

-Yeah.

-That made me think, how about some aerials on the top of your den,

like in an old school retro TV aerial?

-Cool.

-So when you say an aerial,

like do you mean the thing on the top of TVs?

-Yes.

-Like back in the day. That's it, exactly. Oh!

Soibi, what's your favourite bit that Olga has just said?

The retro look for my den.

Great. We've got a happy customer.

Olga's plans have been given the Soibi stamp of approval.

She's designed the outside of the den to look like an old school

television, complete with a retro aerial on the top of the structure.

On the inside, Soibi will have an amazing news studio

as well as a research area, where she can work on her reports.

Olga plans to construct Soibi's awesome journalism den

in this area of the garden,

but before any building can take place, we need to make sure

the ground is level.

To get this job done, Soibi and the Dengineers need to get digging.

-Yes, Soibi!

-Chucking it straight over.

With the grass and mud cleared out,

the team crack on laying the concrete.

That's one, and that's it done.

After a huge effort from the ground works team,

building can finally begin on the structure of the den.

And that means this garden is a Dengineers-only zone

until the big reveal, in just four days' time.

It's day one of the build in Manchester,

and the first job for the Dengineers is to unload

an enormous amount of den-building kit.

The Dengineers have landed.

I'm really excited to build the den, because I couldn't sleep,

and I can't wait,

because it's going to be, like, a really big part of my life.

The next task for the team is to build the main structure of the den.

A job which involves using over 130 metres of weatherproof timber.

That's roughly the same length as five fully grown blue whales.

-There you go.

-Building a den this size is a huge challenge for the

Dengineers, and designer Olga is feeling the pressure.

This is one of the biggest structures I've ever built

for The Dengineers,

and it's going to be a huge task to make it happen in four days,

but I do believe in the Dengineers' power,

and I'm sure we can make it happen.

Whilst the team crack on constructing this mammoth structure,

Olga needs Soibi's help with some painting.

Really good. Look how quick you are.

Painting with Olga was fun

because it gave me a hint of what to expect with the den.

I can't wait to see the rest of the den.

This den's going to give Soibi some much-needed space of her own.

I want to find out more from Mum and Dad

about how much this will mean to her.

Soibi usually has her siblings jumping up and down or interrupting

her when she's writing things, so I think having her own space,

where she can do her own thing, will be good for her.

Soibi shares a room with her younger sister, who's only three.

Does she ever complain about that?

She doesn't really complain, you know,

and that's a wonderful characteristic,

if I may say, of her.

How good of a journalist is Soibi?

She takes the initiative to go and do interviews,

record them and then she writes and edits her stuff,

so for her age, I thought it was amazing, and especially having a den

now, where she can have her own space and have some of the equipment

she needs, I think the sky's the limit.

I promise you it's going to be incredible.

-Are you excited to see it?

-Yes, we are. I can't wait, actually.

-Yes, very much so.

-Are you nervous about what it's done to your garden?

-Yes and no.

-No peeking!

You're going to love it when it's finally built.

Back in the garden,

and the structure of Soibi's den has gone up.

The roof has been sealed to avoid any water getting inside.

The next job for Soibi and the Dengineers is to cover the inside of

the den in over 100m of foil insulation.

What we've got is this foil bubble wrap,

pretty much like you do your packaging with,

and it will help keep the den nice and warm during winter.

OK, so what are you going to use your den for?

I'm going to use it for journalism,

like to write my own newsletters and to broadcast them.

I'd like to broadcast about my dog.

-I've got a pet dog.

-What's its name?

Betty.

With Soibi's help, it's not long until the whole den is covered in

-the foil insulation.

-That's it, push hard. Perfect.

Day one of the build is done and the Dengineers are well ahead of

schedule, and one team member has impressed Olga big-time.

Soibi has done really well today.

She helped me painting, she was helping inside of the den.

She loved it, and I'm happy with it, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

I've had so much fun today.

When it's finished, it's going to

mean so much because it's going to help me achieve my dream.

It's day two in Manchester and the Dengineers are continuing work on

the inside of Soibi's journalism den.

Olga plans to turn one wall of the den into a giant chalkboard,

using special paint, but first,

they need to smooth over the walls with sandpaper

to make sure everything is level.

Step up Soibi the super sander.

Switch on.

With the walls mega smooth, me and Soibi can get painting.

Right, Soibi, let's go.

We make light work of the chalkboard wall and it gives me a chance

to find out more about what this space will mean to her.

Why is this den going to help you achieve your dream?

Because my little sister disturbs as I share a room with her,

and I can't get much done.

-But is she going to be allowed in here?

-No.

-Never?

-Maybe she could film you?

-Probably, yes, OK.

-I think it looks pretty good, don't you?

-Yeah.

-Done?

Done.

The Dengineers spent the whole afternoon building the inside of

the den, and whilst they push on, Soibi has an idea of how she can put

her journalism skills to use.

For my new den, I'm going to make a news report on what it was like when

the Dengineers came to my house,

so I'm going to interview people and do a bit of research.

If you had a choice to make your own den in your own back garden,

-what would it be?

-Oh, I know, that's simple.

It would be an art den.

If you could swap your job for any other job,

what would it be and why?

It would probably be to become a professional football player,

because it's what I always wanted to be when I was a kid.

What do you actually do?

Well, I do the sound, so without me, everything would sound like this.

SILENCE

Do you know the secrets about the den?

I know a few secrets.

-Can you tell me?

-I'm not allowed to tell you, because that's part of it.

All I can tell you is you're going to love it.

Day two of the build is coming to an end and this will be the last time

Soibi gets to see her den before the big reveal in two days' time.

So have a good look.

-What do you reckon?

-It's really good.

I'm glad you like what you see so far and I'm looking forward to see

your reaction on the big day.

Because I can't see my den any more, I'm feeling mixed emotions -

sad because I'm not going to see it,

but happy because it's going to progress and it's going to become

something better.

The team push on without Soibi

and start building her awesome news studio.

Olga has chosen acrylic for the backdrop of the studio,

because it looks really cool.

Be careful.

However, it's an extremely delicate material and one slip with the drill

could be disastrous.

I'm looking a bit worried because this is the most important part

of the den, so literally every single screw can damage the acrylic

and it can snap, and if it snaps, we have nothing to replace it with.

The team take great care with the drilling...

..and eventually fit everything to the walls without any mistakes.

The Dengineers have done a great job,

but unfortunately it does mean

they've fallen behind with the build.

Olga, it's looking great,

but you did design a retro TV for the outside of the den.

That's not happened yet. When is this going to happen?

We are slightly behind, it's true.

We're actually quite a lot behind, but I think we should be fine.

-Should be?

-Yeah, we should be fine.

As day two ends, the Dengineers know it's going to take an enormous

amount of effort to get Soibi's den finished in time for the big reveal.

Today was really, really hard.

We didn't manage to achieve what we planned,

so tomorrow we really need to work

very, very hard, so I'm a bit worried,

but if Dengineers can't do it, nobody can.

If Soibi is going to be a hotshot journalist one day,

I think it's time for her to learn some tricks from the best,

so I've brought her to Media City in Salford,

which is the home of not only CBBC,

but also Soibi's favourite news programme, North West Tonight.

They've only gone and let us have a VIP tour of the news studio!

Wow.

What do you think about this?

-It's really good.

-Our special access doesn't just get Soibi a seat

on the famous red sofa.

Oh, yeah, that's a comfy seat.

You see this camera right over here?

Underneath it, there's some words that will scroll up, and that's what

the newsreaders use.

Do you want to read out those?

This is the very same equipment that Soibi's favourite presenter

Annabel Tiffin uses

when reading the news to half a million viewers every day.

Good evening, welcome to

North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin.

And now, it's Soibi's turn to try it out.

Hi, my name is Soibi and welcome to Soibi News.

On today's show, I'm having a behind-the-scenes tour

on the North West Tonight studio,

and I'm about to meet my favourite presenter, Annabel Tiffin.

Hi, Soibi!

-How are you?

-I'm good.

THEY LAUGH

Was this a bit of a surprise?

Yes.

Oh, how do you feel, Soibi?

Shocked.

You want to be a journalist?

-Yeah.

-Do you? I think you're going to.

I think you're going to steal my job, aren't you?

Annabel, have you got any tips for Soibi as an aspiring journalist?

I think you've got the confidence, haven't you?

Are you quite nosy?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

She's already been digging a lot into what kind of den

she's going to be getting.

There's been lots of questions from Soibi already.

You need to be a little bit nosy,

and you just need to really be interested in people,

and I think you are that as well, aren't you?

Yes. I've always admired her on TV,

and to see her in person is really good.

I'm going to savour the moment.

Soibi is in dreamland right now, and the surprises aren't over yet.

So we've got you a little journalism bag with everything

you're going to need to get you going on the road to journalism.

-Thank you.

-Soibi's got all the kit she needs

to become an awesome journalist.

Time to test it out on her first interviewee.

If you could swap this for any other job,

what would you swap it for and why?

I'd swap it to work with dolphins, I think,

but I'm not a very good swimmer, so I think I'd better stay doing this.

Thank you, Annabel, nice meeting you.

-You too.

-Today has been, like, one of the best days of my life because

I've met my favourite presenter, I've visited my favourite TV show,

plus I'm going to get a den made.

Back at the den and the team are getting cracking on day three of

the build, and a fast start is vital for the Dengineers to have any

chance of finishing this den in time for the big reveal.

The first task is to make the old school TV screen,

and the team start by fixing coloured acrylic panels

to the front of the den.

Olga needs all hands on deck today,

and although Soibi can't see the den until the big reveal,

she can still help out away from the build, with the upcycle.

What are you going to need lots of in the research part of your den?

-Paper, pens and pencils.

-That's it, exactly.

So I've found lots of bottles,

and my idea is to turn those bottles into

storage for your stationery bits.

-OK.

-Something like that.

-That's amazing.

To transform these plastic bottles into cool stationery holders,

the first task is to carefully cut the bottles into smaller sections,

then Olga and Soibi glue a zip around both parts of the bottle.

That's it, brilliant, well done.

Let me hold it, you zip it.

Yay!

So Soibi, that's going to help you keep your den tidy.

Everyone has worked really hard throughout the morning,

but the team are still well behind schedule.

It's going to be an enormous effort from the whole team to have the den

finished, and the big reveal is coming.

Failing is not an option.

Olga needs all Dengineers on deck,

so it's cameras down and tools up for the rest of day three.

The Dengineers are making good progress,

but with the big reveal looming,

they have no choice but to keep working into the evening.

It's late at night.

I've got my paint. It's brilliant.

The best time to work.

And that means tonight's tea is served on site.

The Dengineers push on,

but as night falls, they're forced to call it a day.

It's the morning of day four and the team are on site early to try

and get this den finished in time for the big reveal.

Every member of the team is working flat out to add the finishing

-touches to Soibi's den.

-It's reveal day and we're not finished yet.

But Olga has just enough time to explain the engineering behind a

cool bit of kit that's going to help Soibi with her journalism.

Explain this to me.

-What is this wall?

-This is a green screen,

and the way it works, it isolates one of the colours, which is green,

which makes that colour invisible,

therefore anything filmed against

the colour can be projected on a different image.

So if you were to film me against this wall, you could put

a picture of the moon behind me and it would look like I'm on the moon?

Exactly.

This process of isolating or keying out a specific colour is often used

in TV shows, weather forecasts,

and it's used in loads of movies to make it look like actors are

actually in these magical worlds.

Soibi's journalism den is almost finished,

thanks to a colossal effort by the Dengineers.

There's no better painter on The Dengineers than moi.

With the end in sight, they make one last push,

and with only seconds to spare, Soibi's den is complete.

This garden used to be home to

a patch of grass and the family's bikes.

But Olga and her team of dedicated Dengineers have

worked their socks off over the past four days and transformed it

into an incredible journalism den for Soibi.

The garden is set for the big reveal and Soibi's friends and family have

arrived to see the finished den.

I think she deserves it, because it's like her life goal.

This is the one thing that she really wants in her life.

She just works so hard all the time, and I think it's really good for

her to have a treat.

I'm so excited to see my den finished for the first time,

because there's so many surprises.

I've never been more excited than this in my whole entire life.

And it's not just Soibi and her friends

who can't wait to see this den.

I know she absolutely loves the news.

I can't wait to see how they've managed to create a den which is

really for an aspiring journalist.

The waiting is over.

It's time to find out what Soibi and Co think of this amazing den.

-YELLS:

-Are you ready to see Soibi's den?

THEY CHEER

ALL: Five, four, three,

two, one.

THEY CHEER

Soibi, from first look, what do you reckon?

-Wow.

-Mum and Dad, what do you reckon?

Wow. Really good.

Soibi wanted a journalism den,

where she can practice and perfect her news reports,

and Olga and the Dengineers have delivered big time.

What's there, what's catching your eye first of all?

-The logo.

-What do you like about that?

I like the star and the way it says Soibi's News Studio.

The outside of the den has been built in the shape of a

cool old school TV, complete with a retro aerial,

and Soibi has even got her own personalised news logo.

Welcome to your news den.

Wow!

ALL: Whoa!

Come on.

That's good. Look at that.

There we are on North West Tonight

and now you've got your very own North West Tonight.

-What do you think?

-Wow, that's actually really good,

I didn't imagine it to be like this.

The inside of the den is split into two areas.

One half is a research area complete with upcycled stationery

containers and loads of storage for Soibi's notes,

and the other is a news studio complete with a green screen,

where Soibi can film herself

projected against any image she wants.

What's the thing that's capturing your attention straightaway?

It has to be the backdrop,

because I said I wanted something that would remind you of

a news studio, and you guys really, really brought that.

Oh, great news.

-We did a good un.

-This day is so amazing, I absolutely love it.

I'm so happy with all the designs and I'm really grateful for it.

We are recording in five, four, three, two, one.

Good evening and welcome to The World Uncovered with Soibi.

I love this new den.

Thank you to everyone who helped with this.

I can't explain how good this is going to be in part of my life.

-Oh.

-Yeah.

THEY CHEER

Amazing.

On a scale of one to ten, I love my den by one million.

Who wants to come and see?

EVERYONE CHEERS AND SHOUTS

Come on.

I think the den is really good and it's unique because it's got Soibi

printed out everywhere,

so you know it's definitely hers and not anybody else's.

These guys absolutely love the journalism den.

Now it's time for Soibi News' debut interview.

So Ricky, tell me, would you like a news den like this?

I'm so jealous.

I mean, I work in a news studio every day,

but I'd love to have something like this in my garden.

I tell you what, if the Newsround studio,

if we ever have a problem with it,

can we come here and do Newsround from your den?

Only if I get to be featured.

Fair enough, I'm sure we can work that out.

Soibi is going to be able to use that studio every single day,

so she's going to get so good at presenting and reporting.

-I'd better watch out.

-If you had to swap your job for anything,

what would you swap it for and why?

I would become a Dengineer,

so I could build incredible dens like this.

Our desire and our hope is that it will help her with her dreams.

It really provides an avenue for Soibi to showcase what she really

-wants to do.

-This experience has been life-changing.

I'm never going to forget it.

And if I ever become a really good journalist, I'll thank Dengineers.

This den is headline news here in Manchester,

so there's only one more thing to do.

ALL: THIS DEN IS DONE!

THEY CHEER