Tracey Beaker to return to CBBC

The BBC confirm that popular children’s drama Tracey Beaker will return for a new series next year but the character will now be all grown up – contains the BBC Press Release.

CBBC continues its unique investment into drama for children with its latest commission – Beaker’s Back (working title). Back by popular demand, the nation’s favourite youngster in care Tracy Beaker returns in a brand new original 13-part series to be shown in 2010.

Devised by multi-award winning children’s author Jacqueline Wilson and the drama team at CBBC, the series will see Dani Harmer reprise the role that made her a household name. This new drama will see teenage Tracy back at the Dumping Ground, but this time as a carer. This series will be exclusively filmed and based in the North East of England, cementing the BBC’s commitment to boosting out of London Network programme spend to 50% by 2016.

Beaker’s Back follows a pedigree of successful children’s dramas from the North East including Byker Grove and the BAFTA award-winning The Revenge Files Of Alistair Fury. Jacqueline Wilson is one of this country’s most prolific and respected children’s authors. She has sold millions of books, her total stands at over 20 million in the UK alone. In June 2002 Jacqueline was given an OBE for services to literacy in schools and she was made a Dame in the New Year’s Honours List for 2008.

“So many children ask me what happened to her when she got older, now we can finally find out.” – Jacqueline Wilson

The show picks up as Tracy is now living with Cam, something she has dreamt of for years. She is writing a book – The Story of Tracy Beaker – which gives an account of her sometimes outrageous actions when she was a youngster in care herself. She is convinced that the book will be an instant hit that will make her rich and famous in the process. However, after a series of disasters, she realises she needs to earn some cash, and despite her better instincts, her experiences make her perfect for working in a care home, and she is drawn back to the Dumping Ground. Although she no longer lives there, she quickly becomes embroiled in to the lives of the current residents, meeting a gang of new kids and trying to help them with their problems. Tracy Beaker is back!

“I’m delighted to be returning to the role of Tracy Beaker and finding out how things are developing for her as a young adult.” – Dani Harmer

“I’m thrilled to be working with Jacqueline again to bring drama to children. Coupling her incredible talent with that of Dani Harmer is a winning combination. The stories of Tracy help children understand that everyone is different and so are their circumstances. CBBC is working with the best writers, actors, and productions to serve up the best in drama for children.”- Anne Gilchrist, Controller, CBBC

Beaker’s Back is a CBBC Production, Executive Produced by Jo Ward.