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Tracy Beaker Returns was a British television programme. Based upon the novels by Jacqueline Wilson, it is the sequel series to The Story of Tracy Beaker. The series stars Dani Harmer reprising her role as protagonist Tracy Beaker. The third and final series ended on 23 March 2012. A sequel spin-off entitled The Dumping Ground started airing on 4 January 2013.[1]
| Tracy Beaker Returns | |
|---|---|
 Series intertitle | |
| Genre | Children's Drama |
| Created by | Jacqueline Wilson, and Tracy Beaker Productions Ltd |
| Starring | List of Tracy Beaker series characters |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 39 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Josephine Ward |
| Producer | Gina Cronk |
| Running time | 28 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBBC |
| Release | 8 January 2010 – 23 March 2012 |
| Related | |
Premise
editWhen author Tracy Beaker is arrested for using her adoptive mother Cam's credit card to publish her autobiography, she seeks refuge at Elmtree House, a care home nicknamed "The Dumping Ground" 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 the head care worker, Mike (Connor Byrne), for a job. As Mike is short-staffed, he agrees to hire her as 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 children's lives.
Production
editThe first series was produced in summer 2009, then provisionally known Beaker's Back. Set designers revamped buildings of the former La Sagesse convent school in the Jesmond area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne into the children's home, retaining the Elm Tree House name from series 5 of The Story of Tracy Beaker, despite the original series being filmed in Cardiff. The father's house was developed into the exterior of Elm Tree House, whilst the show's interior scenes were filmed in a grander building elsewhere on the same site. Classroom buildings and the Jesmond Towers were also used for scenes, as well as local landmarks such as the MetroCentre shopping centre. Production continued at La Sagesse through series two and three and into the first series of The Dumping Ground until property owners Barratt Homes decided to redevelop the school buildings into a luxury housing estate. The recognisable exterior of Elm Tree House was demolished in mid-2013 though the building used for interior scenes partially remains intact.
Episodes
editCast and characters
editRatings
edit| Series | Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | Series Average | CBBC Weekly Ranking | BBC iPlayer requests[a] | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 8 January 2010 | 828,000 | 547,000 | 1 | 565,000 | [3] |
| 2 | |||||||
| 3 | 15 January 2010 | 699,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 4 | 22 January 2010 | 564,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 5 | 29 January 2010 | 594,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 6 | 5 February 2010 | 485,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 7 | 12 February 2010 | 550,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 8 | 19 February 2010 | 432,000 | 2 | — | — | ||
| 9 | 26 February 2010 | 423,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 10 | 5 March 2010 | 503,000 | 1 | 324,000 | [4] | ||
| 11 | 12 March 2010 | 512,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 12 | 19 March 2010 | 447,000 | 2 | — | — | ||
| 13 | 26 March 2010 | 524,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 2 | 1 | 7 January 2011 | 548,000 | 519,000 | 1 | 451,000 | [5] |
| 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 | 636,000 | [6] | ||
| 7 | 11 February 2011 | 567,000 | 1 | 580,000 | [6] | ||
| 8 | 18 February 2011 | 583,000 | 1 | 477,000 | [6] | ||
| 9 | 25 February 2011 | 623,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 10 | 4 March 2011 | 611,000 | 1 | 556,000 | [7] | ||
| 11 | 11 March 2011 | 596,000 | 1 | 625,000 | [7] | ||
| 12 | 18 March 2011 | 463,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 13 | 25 March 2011 | 453,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 3 | 1 | 6 January 2012 | 856,000 | 727,000 | 1 | 756,000 | [8] |
| 2 | |||||||
| 3 | 13 January 2012 | 874,000 | 1 | 688,000 | [8] | ||
| 4 | 20 January 2012 | 856,000 | 1 | 612,000 | [8] | ||
| 5 | 27 January 2012 | 748,000 | 1 | — | — | ||
| 6 | 3 February 2012 | 781,000 | 1 | 831,000 | [8] | ||
| 7 | 10 February 2012 | 704,000 | 1 | 980,000 | [8] | ||
| 8 | 17 February 2012 | 646,000 | 1 | 730,000 | [8] | ||
| 9 | 24 February 2012 | 631,000 | 1 | 676,000 | [8] | ||
| 10 | 2 March 2012 | 608,000 | 1 | 802,000 | [8] | ||
| 11 | 9 March 2012 | 728,000 | 1 | 723,000 | [8] | ||
| 12 | 16 March 2012 | 631,000 | 1 | 596,000 | [8] | ||
| 13 | 23 March 2012 | 659,000 | 1 | 607,000 | [8] |
Development and production
editIn March 2009, the BBC announced the new 13-part series under the working title Beaker's Back!.[9] The series was filmed in the old La Sagesse School in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne in the summer of 2009, and directed by Neasa Hardiman, Craig Lines and Michael Davies.[10]
In February 2010, it was announced that Tracy Beaker Returns would be renewed for a second series to air in 2011.[11] Filming took place throughout summer and autumn of 2010 and premiered on 7 January 2011.
On 6 April 2010, it was announced that Classic Media's UK division (formerly known as Entertainment Rights) had picked up worldwide distribution rights to the series, with the exception of UK television rights which were retained by the BBC.[12]
It was announced on 12 March 2011 that a third series has been commissioned to be filmed entirely in the North East.[13] The third series later premiered on 6 January 2012.
A spin-off series was commissioned by the CBBC, titled The Dumping Ground. It started airing on 4 January 2013.[1]
Home Media
editAll thirteen episodes of Series 1 were released as part of a two-case boxset titled "Complete Series 1 Collection", released by Universal Pictures UK and Classic Media on 23 March 2011.[14] Series 2–3 have not seen any DVD releases.
Awards and nominations
editIt won the Children's BAFTA award on 28 November 2010 for best drama. On the same night, Dani Harmer and Richard Wisker received nominations in the performer category.[15] 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 |
Notes
edit- ^ Up to the end of the relevant month
References
edit- ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ "Publicity pack" (PDF). www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Publicity pack" (PDF). www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Player performance" (PDF). www.bbc.co.uk. 2011.
- ^ a b c "Player performance" (PDF). www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b "Player performance" (PDF). www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "PowerPoint Presentation" (PDF).
- ^ "CBBC orders up more original drama for children as Tracy Beaker returns to the BBC in 2010". BBC Press Office (Press release). BBC. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
- ^ "Tyneside return for Tracy Beaker". 2 October 2009.
- ^ "Tracy Beaker returns as CBBC commissions more drama from the North East, plus a Newsround special on living in foster care". BBC Press Office (Press release). BBC. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ "Classic picks up Ooglies".
- ^ "Press Office – Tracy Beaker returns to the North East" (Press release). BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ^ "Tracy Beaker Returns". Amazon UK. 21 March 2011.
- ^ "Tracy Beaker Returns wins a Bafta". screenterrior. Retrieved 8 January 2011.