The Dumping Ground Returning on CBBC

Season 13 of The Dumping Ground is set to bow on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on January 17.

The new season will see Dani Harmer, who has played Tracy Beaker since 2002 and gone on to star in various spin-off shows, make a one-off appearance and direct an episode, marking her directorial debut.

The show has been filmed in the North East for 12 years, including most recently in Hexham. It is made by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions. BBC Children’s and Education and BBC Studios work closely with North East Screen to cultivate a lasting legacy in the region for the creative industry.

Harmer commented, “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 does 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!”