Eventually, after Zig finally told Zag and Ray the truth, Podge made a power play and took over the programme for a day, revealing that he had been brought to life by a magician, but then sealed away when he turned evil.

Following his initial "story arc," Podge became a recurring presence on The Den over the next six years, causing trouble by using one of many paper-thins disguises that the gang could never see through, despite his constant insults and use his catchphrase, "Oh really?"

His "magical" origins were never referred to again, but he retained some of his powers, such as an ability to disappear into thin air to escape when his disguises were seen through.

Podge's most daring scheme was 1992's "Christmas Crisis," in which he tried to ensure that Zig would receive no presents from Santa Claus, using his postman disguise to enter their home, break one of the presents, for which Zig would be blamed, and also make off with a bottle of "Scent of Man", a cologne which would be a recurring motif for the character, often revealing his identity.

Eventually, in 1996, Podge was finally well and truly caught by the Den gang, only to be freed by his never-before-seen twin brother, Rodge, posing as a policeman, who escorted him away.

The show ignored their established history from their earlier, child-friendly appearances, and created a new one for them: in this series, the aged brothers live in Ballydung Manor, a fictional estate located their fictional hometown in Ballydung (off the bypass past Ballywank) in County Ring, a converted asylum which they share with an insane old nurse they call "Granny," as well as their disease-ridden pet cat Pox, and a nicotine-addicted monkey named Spunky.

By this show's telling of events, the two brothers have lived together for decades, and hate one another, but Podge has repeatedly sabotaged any attempts by Rodge to leave him and improve his life.

This remained largely the case during the follow-up series The Podge and Rodge Show, although the living room was featured in the Bogmannay special on New Year's Eve 2006.

The underground dungeon of Ballydung Manor was also shown in an episode of the chat show when Podge and Rodge invited guest Sheana Keane to partake in a gruesome game of Operation!.

A Scare at Bedtime, first aired in 1997, is close to being the polar opposite of this, with extremely adult content, lewd jokes and slightly obscene anecdotes being related by the two puppets.

This leads Podge on to telling a story (acted out by live actors) about some people (whose names are usually sexual innuendos, e.g. Enda Meshank, Chris Peacock, Ulick McGee) who inevitably come to an unpleasant end.

An eight-disc DVD box set of all nine seasons of 150 episodes (including fifty never for sale before) was released at Halloween 2010.

A Scare at Bedtime was nominated in the Best Entertainment Programme category of the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards in both 1999 and 2000.

Podge and Rodge hosted the series from their home made pirate radio studio set up in Ballydung Manor.

[2] The relaunch was part of an RTÉ initiative to promote "edgier" and "riskier" viewing that would "push the boundaries", which included a gay theme night.

Which turned out to be the final episode of the series as it was announced that a new format Podge & Rodge's Stickit Inn, a celebrity pub quiz would replace the chat show in the Autumn 2009 schedule.

In reality Podge and Rodge and Lucy were left in the darkness of Ballydung Manor as the thunder raged outside, imagining their nightmare guests.

Podge and Rodge rang in 2007 on 31 December in a special programme lasting over forty minutes instead of the usual thirty-minute format.

Guests included Edele and Keavy Lynch of B*Witched fame, Mary Black, Jason Donovan and Freddie Starr returned as the Ballydung Butler for the evening.

It featured guests Miss Ireland, Bláthnaid McKenna and boxer Frank Bruno as well as Mr. Gest who was unable to be interviewed as Lucy Kennedy, venturing into his dressing room, discovered he had turned into an ape.

A number of "Half- Arse Hero" awards were handed out, although none of the recipients (who included Steve Staunton) were present to accept them.

Then it was time for a quick game of "Plankety Plank" which featured author Patricia Cornwell – he'd forgotten her name; Dawn French – he'd told her he'd give her €10 not to get out of bed; Brigitte Nielsen – she'd forced him to dance live on TV.

Podge & Rodge's Stickit Inn;[3] began as a celebrity pub quiz, but reverted to a late night chat and music entertainment show.

The dirty duo are joined by a new female co-host in the shape of a busty Italian barmaid to be played by Virginia Macari[4] and their resident musician Johnny Dorgan, the man with the organ.