THE DUMPING GROUND: DANI HARMER RETURNS AS TRACY BEAKER FOR CAMEO APPEARENCE

This January Dani Harmer will be making a cameo in the brand-new series of The Dumping Ground as well as directing her very own episode.

Filmed in the North East, The Dumping Ground is never short on drama, always full of fun, and Season 13 has both in abundance. The new series, launching on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on Friday 17 January, sees a very familiar face returning to our screens as Dani Harmer - who plays the unforgettable Tracy Beaker – is back for a one-off appearance.

Dani has played the role of Tracy Beaker since 2002 and has gone on to play her in various spin-off shows in homegrown stories of life in the care system. As well as reprising her iconic role for the series, Dani has also been behind the camera directing her very own episode.

Commenting on the new series, Dani says: “It is so good to be back and making a cameo as Tracy – she’s been a part of my life for over 20 years now – but I’d quite happily play her forever! This series of The Dumping Ground will not disappoint, we’ve got some fantastic storylines and some incredibly talented actors joining the cast...

"The team do such an amazing job nurturing them and they have really supported me behind the camera too, it’s such a special production to be working on. I loved being behind the scenes for an episode - it was very different being sat in the director’s chair but I enjoyed every single second of it… it felt like that was where I was meant to be!”

The Dumping Ground follows in the footsteps of multi-award-winning dramas The Story of Tracy Beaker and Tracy Beaker Returns as well as My Mum Tracy Beaker and The Beaker Girls. Inspired by Jacqueline Wilson and set in a children’s home, it follows the lives of the diverse group of young people who live there, combining the anarchic activities of this alternative family with tough and emotional storylines.

Filmed in the North East for 12 years, including most recently in Hexham, the series has a strong track record of on-screen diversity, nurturing new British talent and backing the best of homegrown storytelling.

The Dumping Ground series 13 airs Friday 17 January on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.