Dani Harmer, the star of Tracy Beaker, has opened up on one of the most iconic scenes from the popular children’s show. Tracy Beaker is a cherished character penned by renowned children’s author Jacqueline Wilson, first appearing in her 1991 book, The Story of Tracy Beaker.
The story follows the life of a troubled 10-year-old girl grappling with abandonment issues after being left at a care home – dubbed the ‘Dumping Ground’ – by her neglectful mother. To grown-ups, she appears to be a child with behavioural problems, but these stem from feelings of rejection, loneliness and lack of love.
Tracy has a rich imagination and frequently concocts stories to help her deal with her harsh reality.
To fill the void left by her absent mum, she fabricates tales that she’s a famous Hollywood actor who’s too busy to care for her but will return one day to whisk her away.
Following the success of the book and its sequel, which came out in 2000, a BBC television adaptation was created.
The role of Tracy Beaker was brought to life on screen by actor Dani Harmer. Now aged 36, the former child star recently unveiled the truth behind a notorious scene from the hit TV series.
This particular scene saw Tracy Beaker dared to eat a worm by her arch-rival, Justine Littlewood, making viewers cringe as she stepped up to the challenge and swallowed the squirming creature.
Harmer has thrilled fans of the popular show by joining TikTok and sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits, as well as giving a glimpse into her life now as a mum.
The beloved Tracy Beaker star recently answered some burning questions from fans in a cosy video chat. While sipping tea in bed, Dani clarified: “Did I actually eat the worm? No. That would be child abuse, guys.”
She then caught up her followers on her life post-Beaker, revealing she’s now a proud mum and feels incredibly grateful for the “wicked opportunities” that have come her way.
The actress has not only graced the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom and shone on stage in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but she also founded The Dani Harmer Academy of Performing Arts.
With a laugh, she joked the eponymous name came about because she “can’t come up with anything original”.
Branching out into directing, Dani described her new role behind the camera as “great”. When it comes to old castmates, she’s still chummy with many, including Cara Readle (Layla), Chelsie Padley (Louise), Ciaran Joyce (Lol), among others.
Fans in the comments couldn’t help but admire Dani’s down-to-earth vibe and her openness, with one fan commenting: “It honestly feels like sitting down with a life long friend and having a catch up”.
One fan gushed: “I love how normal you are… You’re an absolute icon for us 90s lot but you are just so normal and nice despite being such a celebrity!!!”
In response, Dani stated: “No celebrity here! I’m just a mum and a wally”. Another follower added: “I think you’ve answered every question the UK has been asking for years”.