Tracy Beaker's Dani Harmer nearly landed Emmerdale role
The role of Debbie Dingle was actually filled by Charley Webb, who first appeared in the show all the way back in 2002, before exiting in 2021.
However, child star Dani, who is now 36-years-old, has opened up about some of her past auditions, as well as the roles she failed to get.
Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer reveals she nearly landed the role of Debbie Dingle on Emmerdale
According to The Sun, Dani Harmer said: "Another random part that I auditioned for, Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale. Weird.
"I got quite far for that one, too, but didn't get it, probably because I wasn't Northern.
"Yeah, I don't think I was ever right for that, but what could have been a but, yeah, definitely weren't right for that one."
The actor also revealed that before landing the role of Tracy Beaker, she made it to the last round of auditions for the hit kids' show My Parents Are Aliens.
Sharing her devastation at being rejected for the part, she said: "Back in the day. I auditioned for a little show called My Parents Are Aliens.
"I actually got down to the final two for that, and I was devastated when I didn't get it, like, oh man. I was so sad.
"And I did a really good audition and everything. And, yeah, I was so gutted. But a year later, I got Tracy Beaker, so I feel like everything happens for a reason."
Beyond ITV and the BBC, the star also tried to secure a part for a global show on the Disney Channel.
She said: "This one's gonna really make you giggle at one point, they did do a UK casting call for Hannah Montana.
"I did, in fact, have an audition for her friend. So don't panic, I wasn't after Miley Cyrus's job.
"Yeah, and that was a strange audition. I just remember it lasting for all of like three seconds, probably because they knew they were just gonna cast it in America, so I felt like they were just wasting our time."
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Reflecting on all of this, she joked: "But yeah, what could have been, hey, if I'd landed any of those roles other than Tracy Beaker, [I] could have been in Emmerdale. [I] could have worked with Miley Cyrus.
"Or it could have been in My Parents Are Aliens, and not Tracy Beaker.
"By like, oh my gosh, I could have not been Tracy Beaker at all. Everything happens for a reason."
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