Tracy Beaker is the lead character in the Tracy Beaker franchise. After first appearing as the main character in Jacqueline Wilson's 1991 book The Story of Tracy Beaker, she appeared in the children's television drama of the same name, portrayed by Dani Harmer, and its sequel series Tracy Beaker Returns, as well as numerous spin-offs, Jacqueline Wilson books, a play and a video game. Harmer reprised her role as Tracy in the 2021 television series My Mum Tracy Beaker followed by The Beaker Girls.
Danielle Jane Harmer is an English actress, television personality, and former singer. She is best known for her lead role as Tracy Beaker in the CBBC series The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006), Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA in 2010, The Tracy Beaker Survival Files (2011–2012), My Mum Tracy Beaker (2021), and The Beaker Girls (2021–2023). Harmer played the role of Molly Louise Venables in the BBC One comedy series After You've Gone (2007), and starred in her own CBBC sitcom Dani's House (2008–2012) and its spin-off Dani's Castle (2013–2014).
Killyleagh Castle is a castle in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is believed to be amongst one of the oldest inhabited castles in the country, with parts dating back to 1180. It follows the architectural style of a Loire Valley château, being redesigned by the architect Sir Charles Lanyon in the mid-19th century. It has been owned by the Hamilton family since the early 17th century.
Tom Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ellis Hollins. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 28 December 1999. With Tom being a young child for most of his tenure, his early years featured minimal storylines, including the numerous death of his family, being abused by Clare Devine and having various guardians including Steph Cunningham and Jack and Frankie Osborne. However, a turning point came for Tom when it was announced that his girlfriend, Peri Lomax would fall pregnant, and deal with Peri's subsequent decision to give their baby away for adoption. Other storylines have also included his friendships with Nico Blake and Dylan Jenkins and his relationships with Peri and his foster sister Jade Albright.
Dani's House is a British children's comedy series broadcast on CBBC and starring Dani Harmer. The first series premiered on 26 September 2008, and its fifth series concluded on 19 July 2012. It has received several awards and nominations from BAFTA Kids. A spin-off called Dani's Castle aired from 2013 to 2015. Currently, all 5 series are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Tracy Beaker Returns was a British television programme. Based upon the novels by Jacqueline Wilson, it is the sequel series to The Story of Tracy Beaker. The series stars Dani Harmer reprising her role as protagonist Tracy Beaker. The third and final series ended on 23 March 2012. A sequel spin-off entitled The Dumping Ground started airing on 4 January 2013.
Richard David Kevin Wisker is an English actor and television presenter, best known for his role as Liam O'Donovan in Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012). He also portrayed Rich in the CBBC series Dani's Castle (2013–2015) and Declan in Millie Inbetween (2017–2018) and its spin-off Flatmates (2019–2021). Between 2011 and 2015, he was a presenter on Friday Download.
Powers is a British science fiction television series first broadcast in 2004 on BBC One. Produced by Chris Le Grys and directed by Emma Bodger and Brian Farnham for BBC Children's, the series was created by Jim Eldridge, who wrote episodes alongside co-writers Stephen Hallett, Christopher Wicking, Carolyn Sally-Jones, and John Jackson.
Shannon Flynn is an English actress and presenter from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, who is best known for appearing in Friday Download as well as Emily James in the BBC school-based drama, Waterloo Road., and had starred in its film, Up All Night. From 2013–2015, Flynn starred in the CBBC children's show, Dani's Castle.
The first series of Dani's Castle aired on 17 January 2013 and it was a spin-off from CBBC's popular series Dani's House. The series stars Dani Harmer as Dani, Kieran Alleyne as Jimmy, Niall Wright as Gabe, Shannon Flynn as Kaitlin, Lorenzo Rodriguez as Leo and Jordan Brown as Esme. It takes of when Dani has left her house and has moved on to a new life in Bogmoor. Dani has inherited a castle from Aunt Marjorie she didn't know she had. But as soon as she arrives, she gets more than she bargained for. In "Rich", Lorenzo Rodriguez makes his last appearance as Leo, and Richard Wisker guest stars as Rich.
The second series of Dani's Castle aired from 14 November 2013 to 3 October 2014 on the CBBC Channel. The series mainly focuses on Bogmoor Castle other than Dani fitting in since Dani has moved on as a Hollywood Star. But Bogmoor Castle is still her home so she keeps in touch with the gang via webcam. The series stars Dani Harmer as Dani, Kieran Alleyne as Jimmy, Niall Wright as Gabe, Shannon Flynn as Kait, Jordan Brown as Esme, and introduces newcomers Toby Murray as Dylan and Richard Wisker as Rich.
The third series of Dani's Castle aired from 7 July 2015 to 22 September 2015, and then returned on 15 December 2015 for a finale Christmas episode on the CBBC Channel. Dani Harmer did not return as Dani, therefore the show was informally known as Rich Jimmy & Kait's Castle. The new series introduced two new characters, Clare played by Jessica Forrest and Leonie played by Lucy Hutchinson. Jordan Brown made her last regular appearance as Esme in "The Ghostel", and then reappeared, although not in person, in "That Sinking Feeling", "Ghost Swappers" and "Midsummer Night's Nightmare", she reappeared in person in "It's A Wonderful Afterlife". Kieran Alleyne was absent in "Truth or Scare", "Ghost Swappers", "An Inspector Calls" and "Groundbog Day". He returned in "Midsummer Night's Nightmare" following his brief absence. In "Choc Horror", Jordan Brown reappeared but did not play Esme, instead playing Elly, a relative of Jimmy, Rich and Dylan. Episode 13, titled "It's A Wonderful Afterlife", was a Christmas Special. This was the final series.
Zig and Zag is an animated sitcom series, commissioned by CBBC and RTÉ and featuring the extraterrestrial puppets Zig and Zag from the planet Zog. It aired on CBBC and RTÉjr. Both Zig and Zag are voiced by the characters' original voice actors, creators and writers, Ciaran Morrison and Mick O'Hara.
Jade Alleyne is a British actress, known for her roles as Clem Burton in the CBBC sitcom 4 O'Clock Club, and Kaylee in the Disney Channel musical drama The Lodge.
The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British children's drama media franchise that focuses on the lives and experiences of young people and their care workers in care. The franchise began with the publication of The Story of Tracy Beaker on 14 February 1991. Since then, the franchise has had six further books, three television series and their spin-offs, a television movie, a Children In Need special, a musical and two magazine collections. The Story of Tracy Beaker merchandise has also been released.
My Mum Tracy Beaker is a British children's television miniseries that premiered on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on 12 February 2021. The show was aired the week after The Dumping Ground's eighth series concluded. The series follows on from the events of its predecessors, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground. My Mum Tracy Beaker saw Dani Harmer reprise her role as Tracy Beaker and included original cast members Lisa Coleman, Ruth Gemmell and Montanna Thompson, as well as new cast members Emma Maggie Davies and Jordan Duvigneau.
Nisha K Nayar is a British actress. After coming to prominence in the 1993 film Bhaji on the Beach, she had starring roles as Debra Kumar in the film Out of Hours in 1998 and as Elaine "the Pain" Boyak in the CBBC children's series, The Story of Tracy Beaker from 2002 to 2005. She also appeared as Joyce Hammond in the ITV crime drama Rose and Maloney between 2004 and 2005 and starred as Fran Keeley in the Channel 4 drama Before We Die in 2021.
