Tracy Beaker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tracy Beaker |
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| The Story of Tracy Beaker (franchise) character | |
Dani Harmer as Tracy Beaker in My Mum Tracy Beaker
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| Created by | Jacqueline Wilson |
| Portrayed by | Dani Harmer (television) Sarah Churm (stage) |
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| Children | Jess Beaker |
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Tracy Beaker is a famous character from books and TV shows. She was created by author Jacqueline Wilson in her 1991 book The Story of Tracy Beaker. Tracy then became a star in the TV series of the same name. Actress Dani Harmer plays Tracy in the TV shows. Tracy also appeared in sequel series like Tracy Beaker Returns and many spin-offs. She has been in more books, a play, and even a video game! Dani Harmer returned to play Tracy in the 2021 TV series My Mum Tracy Beaker.
In her first stories, Tracy lives in a care home called "The Dumping Ground." She has a big imagination and often breaks the rules. Later, in Tracy Beaker Returns, she comes back to the Dumping Ground as a care worker. Tracy is also mentioned in the spin-off show The Dumping Ground and even made a guest appearance. The Tracy Beaker books were super popular, being the most borrowed books in UK libraries between 2000 and 2010.
Tracy Beaker's Adventures at The Dumping Ground
Starting Her Journey (Series 1: 2002)
Tracy comes back to the Dumping Ground after leaving a foster home. She was upset because a new baby was coming. When she returns, her best friend Louise is now friends with Justine Littlewood. Tracy gets even angrier when Justine has her old room. She quickly becomes Justine's enemy. Tracy even breaks Justine's clock.
Tracy tries to run away and meets Ben Batambuze. He says he lives on the streets. They become friends and walk around, with Ben giving Tracy lots of chocolate.
Later, Tracy meets Cam Lawson, a writer. Tracy loves writing and wants to impress Cam. But she gets into a fight with Justine, which embarrasses them both. Cam needs more time to decide if she wants to foster Tracy. Tracy is impatient and asks Ben to help her visit Cam. When they get to Cam's flat, she's not there. Tracy and Ben rearrange the furniture and eat chocolate. Cam is upset when she returns. Tracy apologizes, and Cam still thinks about fostering her. Finally, Cam asks Tracy to move in, and Tracy happily agrees.
Back at the Dumping Ground (Series 2: 2003)
Tracy ends up back at the Dumping Ground. This happens after she accidentally caused a fire in Cam's kitchen. Tracy refuses to talk to Cam at first. Elaine, a care worker, tries to help them talk things out. Tracy shows Cam what it's like to be her. Their friendship gets back on track.
Tracy then meets Ben's aunt and uncle, Kate and Jasper. They want to foster her. Tracy is excited but learns she would have to move to Scotland. This would mean being far from the Dumping Ground, Ben, and Cam. In the end, Tracy decides to go to Scotland only for a holiday.
New Challenges (Series 3: 2003–2004)
Tracy is still living at the Dumping Ground. She worries when the new head care worker, Shelley Appleton, thinks about moving her to a different care home. To make things worse, Cam is leaving for New York. Luckily, the other kids team up and say they will all leave if Tracy does. This makes Shelley change her mind. Tracy later becomes friends with Jackie Hopper. Jackie often tries to run away, but Tracy convinces her to stay at the Dumping Ground for a while.
Living with Cam (Series 4: 2004–2005)
Tracy is back living with Cam. The Dumping Ground has moved to a new location nearby. The Wellards, a new family, arrive and cause trouble. Tracy helps sort things out at the Dumping Ground. It's Bouncer's birthday, and he is leaving. Tracy helps him with his feelings for care worker Jane. Tracy also meets Cam's mother, her adoptive grandmother, and surprisingly likes her. Tracy sometimes spends shopping money on things she wants. One day, Tracy wakes up and everyone at the care home is singing like in a musical. Crash, Jackie, and Tracy plan pranks against the Wellards.
A New Family (Series 5: 2005)
Tracy is on holiday with Cam in Egypt for the first few episodes. She keeps in touch with the Dumping Ground every day. She returns to the care home when Cam's new boyfriend, Gary, moves in with them. Tracy decides she can't live with Cam anymore because of Gary. She is forced to think about her future.
Tracy agrees to spend time with Cam and Gary. To her surprise, they get along well. Then Cam tells Tracy that she and Gary are getting married. This is too much for Tracy to handle, and she doesn't want anything to do with it. Cam and Gary get married, and Tracy only makes it thanks to Crash and Jackie. In the end, Cam and Gary tell Tracy they are going to adopt her!
Special Appearance (2006)
Tracy, along with Justine Littlewood and Crash Watkins, appeared in a special event for Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.
Tracy Beaker Returns
Becoming a Care Worker (Series 1: 2010)
Four years later, Tracy has written her own book. But she used Cam's credit card to publish it. Cam tells the credit card company, and the police get involved. Tracy is arrested and questioned. It's revealed that Cam's marriage to Gary didn't work out. Tracy is released when Cam drops the charges. The condition is that Tracy pays her back and helps write a newspaper column.
When Tracy gets home, she hears angry messages from Cam and runs away. She ends up at the Dumping Ground, and Mike lets her stay the night. The next day, she asks Mike for a job. He lets her become an assistant care worker. However, she isn't very good at first. She's often late and breaks promises to the kids. When she's told she might be fired, she quits. With help from the kids, she gets her job back. Tracy then has exciting days as a care worker. She becomes close to kids like Lily and Toby. She deals with her first night shift, tries to reunite Lily with her sisters, and investigates stolen items. In the last episode, Tracy is offered a job at a London newspaper. She has to write about life in care. Everyone helps her, and she gets the job. But Tracy turns it down, choosing to stay at the Dumping Ground.
New Family Life (Series 2: 2011)
Tracy learns the council plans to close the Dumping Ground. She climbs onto the roof to protest. The protest goes wrong when Lily falls off the roof. Because of this, the Dumping Ground is almost shut down. Mike is nearly fired but keeps his job. Lily is fostered by Cam after the accident. Tracy feels a bit jealous because it used to be just her and Cam. Tracy even gets a second job at a cafe to avoid being home. Eventually, Tracy accepts Lily as a sister, and they become even closer.
After more adventures, including dressing as a giant sausage, Tracy loses Lily as a sister. Lily decides to live with her dad again. When Cam leaves for New York, Tracy starts having panic attacks. She has a big one in front of the kids.
Moving On (Series 3: 2012)
Tracy deals with Dennis Stokle, a care worker from another home. She tries to help shy Kitty come out of her shell. This results in Tracy getting hurt. She also helps Lily try to reunite Rosie and Poppy with their dad, Steve Kettle. In one episode, Tracy has trouble when Justine Littlewood returns. Later, Justine announces she is getting married. In the final episode of Tracy Beaker Returns, Tracy decides to leave the Dumping Ground. She becomes a fully qualified care worker at a different care home. Melanie replaces her. On Tracy's last day, Melanie seems to do everything better than Tracy, even saving Jody Jackson's life. Tracy sleeps at the Dumping Ground one last time. The next morning, she says goodbye to Mike and leaves for good.
My Mum Tracy Beaker
My Mum Tracy Beaker started on CBBC on 12 February 2021. This series continues the story from The Story of Tracy Beaker, Tracy Beaker Returns, and The Dumping Ground. Dani Harmer returned as Tracy Beaker. Also returning were Montanna Thompson as Tracy's rival Justine Littlewood, Lisa Coleman as Tracy's adoptive mother Cam Lawson, and Ruth Gemmell as Tracy's biological mother Carly Beaker. New characters include Emma Davies as Tracy's daughter Jess, Jordan Duvigneau as Tracy's boyfriend Sean Godfrey, Noah Leacock as Tyrone, and Danielle Henry as Jess' teacher Miss Mary Oliver.
About Tracy Beaker
"Tracy is so outrageous. It's great to invent somebody who is far bolder than you would ever be yourself. I do think she's got an excuse for bad behaviour, though, because she's had a really tough life. If Tracy didn't have this total determination to survive and get her own back on people, she would be an extra-specially sad soul."
Tracy Beaker is first shown as a ten-year-old girl. She lives in a children's care home called the "Dumping Ground." This name is used because children in care are sometimes "dumped" there. Tracy is described as a modern hero with curly brown hair. We learn she is in care because her mother couldn't look after her. Tracy often dreams that her mother is a Hollywood star who will come to get her one day. In Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me, it's revealed that her mother, Carly Beaker, is a film stunt performer.
Tracy's personality is bossy and rebellious, but also likeable and creative. She has been apart from her mother for a long time. She often disagrees with the staff and other children at the Dumping Ground. She has also been rejected by two sets of foster parents. One time, a couple couldn't keep Tracy because they were having a baby. This made Tracy very upset.
Books, TV, and Games
Tracy Beaker first appeared in the book The Story of Tracy Beaker. She then appeared in two more books, The Dare Game and Starring Tracy Beaker. She was also in a special story for Red Nose Day called Tracy Beaker's Thumping Heart.
In 2002, the BBC made a children's TV series based on the books. It was called The Story of Tracy Beaker. Dani Harmer played Tracy. The show ran for five series on CBBC. It also had a special movie called Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me. Dani Harmer started playing Tracy when she was 12 and continued the role for 10 years. Tracy returned in three more series of Tracy Beaker Returns. In these shows, an adult Tracy Beaker helps new kids at the Dumping Ground.
The character also appeared in a stage play based on the book. It was called Tracy Beaker Gets Real. Sarah Churm played Tracy in the play. The play used cartoon-like sets, similar to the drawings in the books.
In 2009, Tracy Beaker became a video game character. The game was called Tracy Beaker: The Game and was available on Nintendo DS and PC. The game involved reading a lot of text and making choices for Tracy.
