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Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Tracy Beaker cast then and now - everything you need to know about Dani Harmer to Clive Rowe


Tracy Beaker is back and now she has a daughter in tow.

New CBBC series My Mum Tracy Beaker, which starts today, sees Dani Harmer reprise the role she made famous 20 years ago.

After years spent rebelling in The Dumping Ground, Tracy now faces her own challenges with her 11-year-old daughter named Jess.

The CBBC synopsis says: "Jess Beaker loves her life with her mum Tracy, until famous footballer Sean Godfrey enters the picture!"

But for those of a certain age, seeing Tracy back on screen will bring back a whole load of memories.

The iconic CBBC show was adapted from Jacqueline Wilson's 1991 book The Story of Tracy Beaker with Dani in the lead role.

My Mum Tracy Beaker is the latest in the CBBC franchise (PA)

There was also its sequel series, Tracy Beaker Returns, as well as numerous spin-offs, the most recent being The Dumping Ground which last aired in 2018.

But this has left us wondering, where are the cast now? And what happened to the real-life Justine Littlewood, Norman 'Duke' Ellington and co?

Tracy Beaker - by Dani Harmer

The best place to start is with the main woman herself.

Dani is reprising her role in the new series (CBBC)

Dani was just 13-years-old when she landed her big break on The Story of Tracy Beaker, which went on for five series from 2002 to 2005.

She was back five years later for Tracy Beaker Returns, for which she won a BAFTA in 2010 and then The Tracy Beaker Survival Files from 2011 to 2012.

But Dani's life wasn't completely dedicated to portraying the role of Tracy.

The now 32-year-old had a brief music career in 2008 when she signed a record deal with Universal Group. While a single was recorded and released, the planned album was later scrapped.

In 2012, Dani competed in the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing where she finished in fourth place with former pro dancer Vincent Simone.

Dani on Strictly Come Dancing in 2012 (BBC/Ray Burmiston)

The following year she portrayed Janet in a UK tour of the stage production The Rocky Horror Show.

In 2016, Dani became a mum to daughter Avarie-Belle Betsy Rachel Brough with her partner Simon Brough.

Justine Littlewood - Montanna Thompson

Any Tracy Beaker fan will remember her arch nemesis Justine Littlewood.

The girls never saw eye to eye and we're sure Justine was at the end of many of Tracy's "bog off" comments.

Tracy and Justine back in 2006 (BBC)

As for actress Montanna Thompson, Justine wasn't her first role having made her TV debut in 1998 in the BBC mini-series Close Relations before appearing in The Queen's Nose .

Montanna, now 32, appeared sporadically throughout the hit TV show's various spin-offs and is again reprising her role in the 2021 series.

She has also starred in The Last Detective, Sugar Rush, Doctors and Casualty and became a mum to a baby boy in 2017.

Rio Wellard - Craig Roberts

Rio Wellard was a third of the Wellard trio and made his first appearance on-screen in series 4 of The Story of Tracy Beaker.

Rio Wellard (BBC)

And who can forget his classic bandanna style?

Craig Roberts, who played him, is a far cry fro Rio now, aged 29, and a bit of a Hollywood star.

He is probably best known for his lead roles as Oliver Tate in the comedy-drama film Submarine and David Meyers in the Amazon series Red Oaks.

The Welsh actor has also had roles in Skins, Casualty and the Horrible Histories Movie, as well as big films Bad Neighbours and 22 Jump Street.

Craig Roberts in 2016 (Getty Images)

Craig is now working behind the camera, writing and directing his own material.

Norman 'Duke' Ellington - Clive Rowe

Care-worker, chef and gardener, Duke appeared to have it all and was a favourite among the Dumping Ground clan.

But he didn't have time for Elaine the Pain.

Actor Clive Rowe, who grew up in Shaw, appeared in the very first episode back in 2002 and left at the end of series 4, as Duke went to visit his family in the Caribbean.

Actor Clive Rowe (The Wharf)

Elsewhere, Clive also starred as Mayor Doyle in the hit Disney show The Evermoor Chronicles as well as the 2007 Christmas special of Doctor Who.

His last film role was in Beauty and the Beast back in 2017 and he has also recently appeared in the show So Awkward on CBBC as the father of one of the main characters called Jas.

Louise Goven - Chelsie Padley

Chelsie Padley as Louise Govern (BBC)

Louise Goven, portrayed by Chelsie Padley, was another series original and played the best friend of Tracy.

But that was until she was fostered by a couple called Ted and Julie and she left The Dumping Ground and was replaced by Justine.

Chelsie, now 28, is now a qualified fitness instructor with her own company, Fit Peach Fitness, and is regularly posting workout tips and videos to her company's Instagram page.

Elaine 'The Pain' Boyak - Nisha Nayar

Elaine the Pain, there's not much else we can say as the name says it all.

The care-worker last appeared in series five and hasn't been mentioned since, but she will reappear in the brand new series.

Remember Elaine the Pain? (BBC)

As for actress Elaine Boyak, she went on to star in Doctor Who, Casualty, Doctors and The Bill and most recently she starred in ITV crime drama The Bay in 2019.

Connor Byrne - Mike Milligan

Temporary care worker turned head care worker via a chef role at The Dumping Ground, Mike became known as the longest-serving and the only character in the Tracy Beaker franchise.

Connor Byrne in London's Burning (LWT)

Connor played Mike in most recent spin-off The Dumping Ground before leaving the series in 2019 after joining way back in 2002.

Aside from that, the Irish actor also played Geoff in three episodes of Emmerdale in 2019.

Camilla 'Cam' Lawson - Lisa Coleman

Camilla was the struggling turned successful author, and Tracy's eventual adoptive mother.

Camilla 'Cam' Lawson played by Lisa Coleman (BBC)

She made her first appearance in series one and regularly appeared thereafter and will also reprise her role in My Mum Tracy Beaker.

Lisa has portrayed other roles in Casualty and The Bill and had a guest role in Hollyoaks as Morag in four episodes in 2011.

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