Dani Harmer has revealed she has never read the Tracy Beaker books and her daughter thinks the show is ‘boring’.

The actress, 36, found fame for playing Tracy on the CBBC show The Story of Tracy Beaker which was based on Jacqueline Wilson’s beloved book of the same name.

But Dani never bothered reading the source material that her character was based on and has no plans to.

Speaking on FUBAR Radio’s Pulse Of The Nation, she said: ‘I’ve still never read it. And I’m going to go down with this ship. And quite frankly, I shall never read it. 

‘I’ve got this far in life. And do you know what? I think kind of in a weird way I think it helped me get the part, because I had no idea of this character apart from the character that I made her.’ 

Dani is mother to daughter Avarie-Belle, eight, and son Rowan, three, with her partner Simon Brough.

Dani Harmer has revealed she has never read the Tracy Beaker books and her daughter thinks the show is ‘boring’

The actress, 36, found fame for playing Tracy on the CBBC show The Story of Tracy Beaker which was based on Jacqueline Wilson’s beloved book of the same name

It appears Dani’s reluctance to take a look at the books has pᴀssed on to Avarie-Belle with the show as the actress admitted she wasn’t impressed with it.

She said: ‘I tried to show her a bit of Tracy Beaker. But she was like, ‘Mum, this is really boring.’ I was like, ‘How dare you!’ 

‘Hopefully she’ll sit down and watch the OG series one day. But she’s very much into the Dumping Ground.’

Speaking about her career might have been different if she had been an actress in America, Dani said: ‘I’d have a lot more money, that’s for sure, if I was over in America! 

‘I suppose I would have definitely had a very different career. I think that over here we tend to keep it in the family.’

She continued: ‘I’m very lucky in terms of the fact I grew up without social media, thank goodness. 

‘Otherwise, that would have been truly dreadful. But yeah, I suppose if I would be a pop star slash actor slash movie star if I’d been in America.’

Dani has played the role of Tracy Beaker since 2002 and has gone on to play the character in various spin-off shows about life in the care system. 

Speaking about the books, Dani admitted: ‘I’ve still never read it. And I’m going to go down with this ship. And quite frankly, I shall never read it’ (pictured in 2022)

Dani’s reluctance to take a look at the books has pᴀssed on to Avarie-Belle with the show as the actress admitted she wasn’t impressed with it

Dani has played the role of Tracy Beaker since 2002 and has gone on to play the character in various spin-off shows about life in the care system. (pictured 2004)

The Dumping Ground is the latest spin-off where Dani again reprised her role for a  one-off appearance in January. 

She has also been behind the camera directing her very own episode. 

Commenting on the new series, Dani told the BBC: ‘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.’

She continued: ‘The production 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, the show 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.