Tracy Beaker Returns
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| Tracy Beaker Returns | |
|---|---|
 Series Intertitle | |
| Genre | Children Comedy-drama |
| Created by | Jacqueline Wilson |
| Starring | Dani Harmer Connor Byrne Richard Wisker Saffron Coomber Mia Mckenna Bruce Amy-Leigh Hickman Philip Graham Scott Jessie Williams Joe Maw Noah Marullo Chris Slater Jessica Revell Daniel Pearson Miles Butler-Hughton Kia Pegg John Bell (2010-11) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 39 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Josephine Ward |
| Producer | Paul McKenzie |
| Running time | 28 minutes 50 minute (series premiere) |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBBC BBC HD |
| Release | 8 September 2010 – 23 March 2012 |
| Release | Picture format: 576i |
| Release | Picture format: 576i |
| Release | Picture format: 576i |
| Release | Picture format: 576i |
| Release | Picture format: 576i |
| Release | Picture format: 576i |
| Release | Picture format: 576i |
| Related | |
| Tracy Beaker Survival Files | |
Tracy Beaker Returns is a BAFTA-winning British children's television series, which premiered on 8 January 2010 on CBBC and BBC HD. Based upon the novels by Jacqueline Wilson, it is the spin-off series to The Story of Tracy Beaker. The series stars Dani Harmer as protagonist Tracy Beaker. The final third series ended on 23 March 2012. The series will continue as The Dumping Ground which started airing on 4 January 2013.[1]
Premise
When Tracy is arrested for using Cam's credit card to publish her autobiography, Tracy seeks refuge at the Dumping Ground, a care home where she used to live as a child. She meets the children who are intrigued by her and her story. Wanting to pay Cam back, Tracy asks Mike for a job. As Mike is short-staffed, he agrees to hire her an assistant care worker since she knows so much about life in care. Tracy then uses her background as a former child in care to become fully involved in the lives of those of those of whom she is now in charge.
Series synopsis
Series 1
Tracy struggles to prove herself as an efficient and effective assistant careworker at Elmtree House, while trying to repair her relationship with her adoptive mother. Tracy's first days at The 'Dumping Ground' prove challenging for her, the residents, as well as the current careworkers she also comes to term with brother and sisters the kettle sisters Lily, Rosie and poppy who all have wild imaginations and the taylor siblings Johnny and Tee both Lily and johnny are extremely over- protective over their siblings and get fustrated when people interferre. Tracy allows her concerns over her own life to take priority over the residents of the Dumping Ground and resigns from her job, but is later rehired. She bonds with the children in her care, ultimately deciding to turn down a position which she was offered as a full-time reporter. Tracy realises that if she were to take on the new role, she would miss the children too much.
Series 2
The council has threatened to close the 'Dumping Ground', leading Tracy to hold a protest on the roof. Lily falls, sustaining serious injuries, and Cam decides to foster Lily while she recovers. Tracy resents Cam and Lily's relationship, but eventually decides that she would like to act as a proper and caring older sister for Lily.
New children arrive throughout the series, including the intimidating Elektra. Others return, such as Johnny and Tee Taylor. Lily meets her father, who has a restraining order preventing him from having contact with her.
Tracy desires to be more independent, including buying her own car, but also feels lonely and isolated. At the end of the series, Lily returns to the 'Dumping Ground' for respite care, and Cam travels to New York for a work contract.
Series 3
Burnywood, another care home, has burned down and its kids now need to stay at the Elmtree house on a temporary basis, which causes immediate friction. Dennis Stockle, a care worker from Burnywood, puts himself in charge of running the carehome, instituting draconian new rules. Eventually, it is learned that he was the cause of the fire—when he was smoking in the attic, he disconnected the fire detectors and failed to put out the cigarettes properly. He resigns after this as Mike has forced him to write his letter of resignation.
Among the children, Liam meets his brother, a police officer, and goes to live with him; Lily's father makes an effort to reclaim his daughters; and Sapphire moves out on her own, which proves temporary. Mike has been offered an MBE and goes and meets they Queen with Gus, Tracy and Harry. By the end of the series, Tracy has become a qualified care worker, and the residents throw her a goodbye party when she decides to leave but Tracy is feeling pushed away, as Mike is really happy about the new replacement. Tracy tries and helps Sapphire to get back into her flat, but is trespassing as the council have sold the land. Mike then finds them, and Tracy gets mad and slams the door, and the roof collapses on Mike and nearly kills him. Mike is the last person Tracy says goodbye to, after 10 years of knowing him.
Cast and characters
Main characters
| Character | Actor | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tracy Beaker | Dani Harmer | 2002–2012 |
| Mike Milligan MBE | Connor Byrne | 2002–2012 |
| Gina Conway | Kay Purcell | 2002–2012 |
| Cam Lawson | Lisa Coleman | 2002–2012 |
| Toby Coleman | John Bell | 2002–2011 |
| Liam O'Donovan | Richard Wisker | 2010–2012 |
| Carmen Howle | Amy-Leigh Hickman | 2010–2012 |
| Sapphire Fox | Saffron Coomber | 2010–2012 |
| Lily Kettle | Jessie Williams | 2010–2012 |
| Johnny Taylor | Joe Maw | 2010–2012 |
| Tee Taylor | Mia Sasha McKenna-Bruce | 2010–2012 |
| Gus Carmichael | Noah Marullo | 2010–2012 |
| Harry Jones | Philip Graham-Scott | 2010–2012 |
| Frank Mathews | Chris Slater | 2010–2012 |
| Mandy 'Elektra' Perkins | Jessica Revell | 2011–2012 |
| Tyler Lewis | Miles Butler-Hughton | 2012 |
| Rick Barber | Daniel Pearson | 2012 |
| Jody Jackson | Kia Pegg | 2012 |
Guest and recurring characters
| Character | Actor | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fox | Jordan Hill | 2010 |
| Terrie | Tracy Ann Oberman | 2010 |
| Seth | Ashley Taylor-Rhys | 2011–2012 |
| Melanie | Emely Glenister | 2012 |
| Lizanne | Lauren Mote | 2012 |
| Kitty | Eleni Foskett | 2012 |
| Denis Stockle | James Gaddas | 2012 |
| Steve Kettle | Ben Cartwright | 2011–2012 |
| Shadow | Connie | 2012 |
| Matt Perry | Chris Robson | 2010–2012 |
| Christie Perry | Vicky Hall | 2010–2012 |
| Poppy Kettle | Katie Anderson | 2010–2012 |
| Rosie Kettle | Millie Redfearn | 2010–2012 |
| Claudia Colling | ||
| Justine Littlewood | Montana Thompson | 2012 |
Ratings
Series 1
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | CBBC Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 January 2010 | 928,000 | 1 |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | 15 January 2010 | 799,000 | 1 |
| 4 | 22 January 2010 | 664,000 | 1 |
| 5 | 29 January 2010 | 494,000 | |
| 6 | 5 February 2010 | 485,000 | 1 |
| 7 | 12 February 2010 | 550,000 | 1 |
| 8 | 19 February 2010 | 432,000 | 1 |
| 9 | 26 February 2010 | 423,000 | 1 |
| 10 | 5 March 2010 | 503,000 | 1 |
| 11 | 12 March 2010 | 512,000 | 1 |
| 12 | 19 March 2010 | 447,000 | 1 |
| 13 | 26 March 2010 | 624,000 | 1 |
Series 2
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | CBBC Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 January 2011 | 648,000 | 1 |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | 14 January 2011 | 426,000 | 1 |
| 4 | 21 January 2011 | 374,000 | 1 |
| 5 | 28 January 2011 | 482,000 | 1 |
| 6 | 4 February 2011 | 498,000 | 1 |
| 7 | 11 February 2011 | 567,000 | 1 |
| 8 | 18 February 2011 | 683,000 | 1 |
| 9 | 25 February 2011 | 623,000 | 1 |
| 10 | 4 March 2011 | 611,000 | 1 |
| 11 | 11 March 2011 | 596,000 | 1 |
| 12 | 18 March 2011 | 463,000 | 1 |
| 13 | 25 March 2011 | 453,000 | 1 |
Series 3
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | CBBC Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 January 2012 | 956,000 | 1 |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | 13 January 2012 | 874,000 | 1 |
| 4 | 20 January 2012 | 856,000 | 1 |
| 5 | 27 January 2012 | 748,000 | 1 |
| 6 | 3 February 2012 | 781,000 | 1 |
| 7 | 10 February 2012 | 704,000 | 1 |
| 8 | 17 February 2012 | 646,000 | 1 |
| 9 | 24 February 2012 | 631,000 | 1 |
| 10 | 2 March 2012 | 608,000 | 1 |
| 11 | 9 March 2012 | 728,000 | 1 |
| 12 | 16 March 2012 | 631,000 | 1 |
| 13 | 23 March 2012 | 659,000 | 1 |
Development and production
In March 2009, the BBC announced the new 13-part series under the working title Beaker's Back!.[3] The series was filmed in an old La Sagesse school in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne in the summer of 2009, and directed by Neasa Hardiman, Craig Lines and Michael Davies.[4]
In February 2010, it was announced that Tracy Beaker Returns would be renewed for a second series for the 2011 television schedule.[5] Filming took place throughout summer and autumn of 2010 and premiered on 7 January 2011.
It was announced on 12 March 2011 that a third series has been commissioned to be filmed entirely in the North East.[6] The third series later premiered on 6 January 2012.
A spin-off series has been commissioned by the CBBC, titled The Dumping Ground and started airing on 4 January 2013.[1]
Awards and nominations
It won Children's BAFTA on 28 November 2010 for best drama. On the same night, Dani Harmer and Richard Wisker received nominations in the performer category.[7] It also won a Royal Television Award in 2011, in the Children's Drama Category.
| Ceremony | Award | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Children's BAFTA Awards] | BAFTA Kids' Vote Television | Tracy Beaker Returns | Nominated |
| 2010 Children's BAFTA Awards | Children's Drama | Tracy Beaker Returns | Won |
| 2010 Children's BAFTA Awards | Children's Performer | Dani Harmer | Nominated |
| 2010 Children's BAFTA Awards | Children's Performer | Richard Wisker | Nominated |
| 2011 Children's BAFTA Awards | BAFTA Kids' Vote Television | Tracy Beaker Returns | Nominated |
| 2011 Royal Television Awards | Children's Drama | Tracy Beaker Returns | Won |
| 2012 Children's BAFTA Awards | BAFTA Kids' Vote Television | Tracy Beaker Returns | Nominated |
| 2012 Children's BAFTA Awards | Children's Drama | Tracy Beaker Returns | Nominated |
| 2012 Children's BAFTA Awards | Children's Writer | Elly Brewer | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b c Damian Kavanagh, Controller CBBC (21 March 2012). "Media Centre - cbbc commissions the dumping ground". BBC. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Barb.co.uk. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ "CBBC orders up more original drama for children as Tracy Beaker returns to the BBC in 2010", BBC Press Office, BBC, 26 March 2009, retrieved 6 January 2010
- ^ "Tyneside retu10". 2 October 2009.
- ^ 10/02_february/28/beaker.shtml "Tracy Beaker returns as CBBC commissions more drama from the North East, plus a Newsround special on living in foster care". BBC Press Office. BBC. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Press Office - Tracy Beaker returns to the North East". BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ^ "Tracy Beaker Returns wins a Bafta". screenterrior. Retrieved 8 January 2011.