The Dengineers
CBBC series building themed dens for children.
The Dengineers is a British children's television series that airs on CBBC. The production team, styled as 'dengineers', designs themed dens or play houses for children. The show has aired seven series, with the most recent hosted by Meryl Fernandes and Joe Swash; previous hosts include Lauren Layfield, Mark Wright, and Joe Tracini. The series is similar to DIY SOS and Grand Designs, with expert designers and builders constructing extraordinary dens either from scratch or by transforming an existing room.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Children's television series / DIY
- Presenter
- Lauren Layfield (series 1-4) / Mark Wright (series 1-2) / Joe Tracini (series 3-6) / Meryl Fernandes (series 5-7) / Joe Swash (series 7)
- Director
- Mel Taylor / Paul Benham / James Knight / Jay Ahmed / Charlotte Ingham
- Starring
- Tony Broomhead / Satwinder Samra / Maral Tulip / Anthony Devine / Emma Kosh / Olga Skumial / Sege Rosella / Dee Saigal / Lynsey Ford / Martin Bell / Sahiba Chadha
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 7
- Num Episodes
- 94
- Executive Producer
- Annette Williams
- Producer
- Jennifer Morrison / Mel Taylor / Paul Benham / James Knight / Jay Ahmed / Charlotte Ingham / Tanuja East / Matt Botten / Laura Davies-Parry / Matt Peacock
- Runtime
- 28 minutes
- Company
- CBBC Productions
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Dengineers was first announced on 16 December 2014 as part of CBBC's 2015 commissions. On 11 April 2015, it was announced that Mark Wright would host alongside Lauren Layfield. A second series was commissioned on 7 July 2016. On 11 April 2017, it was announced that Wright would leave and be replaced by Joe Tracini. In 2017, a special in partnership with Children in Need and Blue Peter aired with guests including Naomi Wilkinson, Katie Thistleton, Ben Shires, and Hacker T. Dog.
Reader's Guide
The Dengineers has aired seven series on CBBC, with episodes themed around designs such as an old-fashioned railway station, a 1960s American diner, and an Australian outback shack. The show won the Factual Entertainment category at the British Academy Children's Awards in 2019. In the United States, the series aired from January 3 to January 31, 2017 on Discovery Family. As of 2021, Czech Television has licensed the first two seasons. The show's designers include Tony Broomhead, Satwinder Samra, Maral Tulip, Emma Kosh, Anthony Devine, Lynsey Ford, Martin Bell, and Sahiba Chadha, with former designers Dee Saigal, Sege Rosella, and Olga Skumial. The series is notable for its collaborative approach, involving expert designers, builders, and the children themselves.
The Den-Building Formula
The Dengineers is a British children's television programme broadcast on CBBC that centres on a production crew, playfully branded as "dengineers," who design and build elaborate themed dens and play houses for young viewers. The format draws clear parallels to well-known home-improvement shows like DIY SOS and Grand Designs, yet it is tailored specifically for a children's audience. In each episode, a team of expert designers and builders works alongside the child at the centre of the project to either construct a den entirely from scratch or completely transform an existing room within the family home. What sets the series apart is its strong commitment to thematic storytelling: rather than building generic play spaces, the team crafts immersive environments inspired by specific settings. Past episodes have featured an old-fashioned railway station, a 1960s American diner, and an Australian outback shack, giving each project a distinct narrative identity. Across seven series, this blend of hands-on construction, creative design, and imaginative world-building has made the show a staple of CBBC's factual entertainment output.
A Rotating Cast of Hosts and Designers
One of the most notable features of The Dengineers is its evolving lineup of presenters and creative talent. The show launched with Mark Wright and Lauren Layfield at the helm, a pairing announced in April 2015. By April 2017, Wright had departed and was succeeded by Joe Tracini, who carried the hosting baton into the third series. The most recent iterations of the programme have been fronted by Meryl Fernandes and Joe Swash, marking another fresh chapter in the show's presentation history. Behind the camera and on the build site, the designer roster has also shifted considerably. The current team includes Tony Broomhead, Satwinder Samra, Maral Tulip, Emma Kosh, Anthony Devine, Lynsey Ford, Martin Bell, and Sahiba Chadha, while earlier contributors such as Dee Saigal, Sege Rosella, and Olga Skumial helped shape the show's visual identity in its formative years. This steady rotation of faces keeps the production feeling dynamic and ensures that each series brings a slightly different creative sensibility to the den-building process.
From Commission to Children in Need
The Dengineers first entered the public conversation on 16 December 2014, when it was revealed alongside a batch of other CBBC commissions earmarked for the 2015 schedule. Just over three months later, on 11 April 2015, the network confirmed that Mark Wright would anchor the series, joined by Lauren Layfield, who was at the time set to take on a role with CBBC HQ. Momentum built quickly: on 7 July 2016, a second series was officially commissioned, signalling that the format had found its audience. The show's trajectory continued through the years, with series stretching from 2015 through to the seventh instalment in 2022–2023. A particularly memorable moment came in 2017, when the production team collaborated with Children in Need and Blue Peter on a special episode. That charity-linked broadcast featured a guest lineup including Naomi Wilkinson, Ayshah Tull, Katie Thistleton, Ben Shires, Rhys Stephenson, and the beloved puppet Hacker T. Dog, blending the show's usual den-building energy with a wider charitable purpose.
Crossing Borders and Collecting Honours
Although The Dengineers was conceived and produced as a CBBC commission for a British children's audience, its appeal has extended well beyond the UK. In the United States, the series found a home on Discovery Family, where episodes aired from 3 January to 31 January 2017, giving American young viewers a month-long window into the dengineers' creative process. The show's international footprint also reached Central Europe, with Czech Television licensing the first two seasons for broadcast as of 2021, demonstrating that the format's blend of practical construction and imaginative design translates effectively across language and cultural boundaries. Back in the UK, the programme's quality was formally recognised in 2019 when it took home the Factual Entertainment category at the British Academy Children's Awards, a prestigious industry honour that validated the team's commitment to high-quality, engaging content for a younger demographic. These milestones collectively underscore that The Dengineers has carved out a distinctive niche in both domestic and international children's television.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Dengineers?
It's a British CBBC children's programme in which a team of designers and builders create themed dens or play houses for kids. The format sits somewhere between DIY SOS and Grand Designs, but pitched squarely at a young audience.
Who hosts The Dengineers?
The latest series are presented by Meryl Fernandes and Joe Swash. Earlier runs of the show featured Lauren Layfield, Mark Wright, and Joe Tracini in the hosting chair.
How many series of The Dengineers have aired?
Seven series have been produced to date. The show was first announced on 16 December 2014 before its initial broadcast on CBBC.
What do the dengineers actually build on the show?
Each episode sees the team either construct a themed den entirely from scratch or transform a child's existing room into a custom play space. The design is tailored around the individual child's interests and personality.
What network airs The Dengineers?
The series broadcasts on CBBC, the UK's dedicated children's television channel. It is a British production made specifically for that young viewership.
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