Latest news with #TheStoryofTracyBeaker
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jacqueline Wilson explains decision behind departure from long-time illustrator Nick Sharratt
Jacqueline Wilson, the acclaimed children 's author, has revealed that her 30-year collaboration with illustrator Nick Sharratt ended in 2021 after the release of 'The Runaway Girls'. Speaking at the Hay Festival, Wilson explained that Sharratt wanted to focus on other illustration projects, a decision she understood despite being 'devastated'. Wilson noted that Sharratt's desire for change was influenced by the pandemic, leading him to seek more time for his other artistic endeavors. Sharratt, who began illustrating for Wilson with 'The Story of Tracy Beaker' in 1991, created the iconic covers for books like 'The Illustrated Mum' and 'Dustbin Baby'. Wilson also discussed her new book, 'The Seaside Sleepover', illustrated by Rachael Dean, and her recent adult novel, 'Think Again', praising Dean as equally talented as Sharratt.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer reveals she's been diagnosed with perimenopause: ‘I felt like I was being possessed'
Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer has revealed that she has been diagnosed with perimenopause after noticing symptoms related to her mental health. The 36-year-old actor, who rose to fame for her starring role in the CBBC TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's novel The Story of Tracy Beaker, explained in a new TikTok video that she went to the doctors after experiencing brain fog, night sweats and difficulties with her mental health. In the video, Harmer pulled back some of her hair to reveal that her curly hair, which had become known as Tracy Beaker's signature locks, was thinning out as a result of the condition. 'I am losing it – it is thinning so badly you can see, like, the bald patches coming in, but just, like, the texture. It's thinning – it's bad, right?' she said. She added that the hair loss was 'getting me down' and that she was considering going to a salon to have curly hair extensions installed. Speaking about obtaining her diagnosis, Harmer revealed that it was her husband, Simon Brough, who encouraged her to get a diagnosis after her 'whole personality had pretty much changed'. 'There was just too much to ignore,' she said. 'I felt like I was being possessed by someone else; it was horrible – I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression.' The actor is now managing her symptoms with the menopause treatment Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which was prescribed after her doctor had run tests for different conditions, including cancer and coeliac disease. She said that the treatment has made her feel like herself again and that she had lost the weight that she had gained during lockdown, but her periods were 'all over the place'. Perimenopause is when a person has the symptoms of menopause but the periods have not stopped. The condition becomes menopause when a person fails to have a period for 12 months. Menopause is when periods stop due to lower hormone levels, which typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards. Harmer encouraged her fans who have had similar symptoms to seek medical advice and 'do not suffer', adding: 'Some of the symptoms are horrendous and you can spiral so quickly. I was really glad I went and got help.' The actor and her partner welcomed their first child, Avarie-Belle, in 2016. They had a second baby, Rowan, in 2022. Harmer appeared in The Story of Tracy Beaker from 2002 to 2005, before appearing in spin-offsTracy Beaker Returns (2009) and TheDumping Ground (2013).
Metro
5 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Former CBBC child star reveals she's been diagnosed with perimenopause at 36
A former CBBC child star who became famous for one of the most iconic roles of the 00s has revealed her perimenopause diagnosis at age 36. Dani Harmer rose to fame playing Tracy Beaker on award-winning kids' show The Story of Tracy Beaker, which ran between 2002 and 2005. Based on the book of the same name by Dame Jacqueline Wilson, The Story of Tracy Beaker followed the lives of a group of kids living at a children's home they dubbed 'the Dumping Ground'. Across its five series, the show was nominated for five children's Baftas and became one of the most-watched and best-remembered CBBC shows of the era. Now, 20 years on from her TV fame, Dani has revealed she has been diagnosed with perimenopause after noticing hair-related symptoms. She posted a video on TikTok in which she asked for advice: 'I have been diagnosed with perimenopause. And what I need your help with is my hair.' In the video, Dani pulled back some of her hair to reveal that her famous curly locks, which became Tracy Beaker's signature style, were thinning out. Dani continued: 'I am losing it – it is thinning so badly you can see, like, the bald patches coming in, but just, like, the texture. It's thinning – it's bad, right?' '[Extensions] could be a terrible idea. They might make my hair even worse, to be honest, but it's really getting me down now,' she admitted to her followers. Talking about her diagnosis, Dani revealed that it was her husband, Simon, who encouraged her to get a diagnosis after her 'whole personality had pretty much changed'. She also revealed that she had been struggling with episodes of depression and anxiety, as well as night sweats, sleep interruptions, and brain fog. 'There was just too much to ignore,' she added. 'I felt like I was being possessed by someone else; it was horrible – I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression.' Dani then said she is now managing her symptoms with HRT, which her doctors were more than happy to provide her with following a crucial appointment. Away from the cameras, Dani shares two children with Simon – son Leon, who was born in 2022, and daughter Averie-Belle, who was born in 2017. So loved was the Tracy Beaker series that it was rebooted in 2010 under the name Tracy Beaker Returns, which saw Tracy become an assistant care worker at the Dumping Ground. Dani then starred in The Tracy Beaker Survival Files from 2011 to 2012, My Mum Tracy Beaker in 2021, and The Beaker Girls between 2021 and 2023. More Trending A spin-off series titled The Dumping Ground began in 2013, featuring different characters, and has subsequently run for 13 more series to great success. Dani appeared on the series as a guest star in 2018 and reprised her role once more earlier this year, even directing an episode of the spin-off programme. She said of her experience: '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!' View More » Watch episodes of The Story of Tracy Beaker on BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: BBC fans urge people to watch crime series 'that's like Gavin and Stacey' MORE: Psychological thriller labelled a 'masterpiece' coming to BBC iPlayer MORE: BBC quietly adds Australian drama that left fans 'crying their eyes out'
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The 13 symptoms of perimenopause after Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer reveals diagnosis aged 36
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER child star Dani Harmer has revealed she has been diagnosed with perimenopause — a condition many don't expect at her age. The 36-year-old, best known for playing Tracy Beaker in the early 2000s, spoke candidly about how the condition has affected her both mentally and taken a toll on her iconic curly hair. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Former TV star Dani Harmer opens up about perimenopause diagnosis on TikTok Credit: tiktok/@ 4 Dani is famous for her lead role as Tracey Beaker in the CBBC series, The Story of Tracy Beaker Credit: CBBC 4 'It's thinning so badly, you can see bald patches coming in," Dani said in a TikTok video shared with fans today (May 26). "The texture is changing, it's bad right now," she added. The perimenopause is the stage in a woman's life when they experience symptoms of menopause but your periods have not yet stopped. It usually starts several years before a woman reaches her menopause, which officially begins when you haven't had a period for 12 months. It is during perimenopause, when oestrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate. This is when it's common to experience difficult symptoms like mood changes, irregular periods and hot flushes. It can also lead to hair thinning and loss as hormone levels affect the hair growth cycle. The condition usually affects women in their 40s but can sometimes begin in the 30s - as in Dani's case. It's less common but not unusual. Mentally, Dani has also suffered. 'My whole personality had pretty much changed,' she revealed, adding that her husband Simon was the first to notice. She has experienced brain fog, night sweats, sleep interruptions, depression, and anxiety. Specific types of HRT found to raise risk of heart disease and blood clots After visiting a female GP and having blood tests, she was 'diagnosed pretty swiftly.' 'I felt like I was being possessed by someone else," she said. Studies suggest women are 40 per cent more likely to experience depression during the perimenopause, something which the TV star experienced acutely. "It was horrible," she said. "I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression.' Dani was prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT). 'My doctor was more than happy to put me on HRT.' 4 Dani has suffered hair loss and depression as a result of the condition Credit: Getty It's usually prescribed to women to help balance hormone levels and relieve common symptoms. Dani has been on HRT for around 18 months and said she 'feels like myself again.'
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The 13 symptoms of perimenopause after Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer reveals diagnosis aged 36
FORMER child star Dani Harmer has revealed she has been diagnosed with perimenopause — a condition many don't expect at her age. The 36-year-old, best known for playing 4 Former TV star Dani Harmer opens up about perimenopause diagnosis on TikTok Credit: tiktok/@ 4 Dani is famous for her lead role as Tracey Beaker in the CBBC series, The Story of Tracy Beaker Credit: CBBC 4 'It's thinning so badly, you can see bald patches coming in," Dani said in a TikTok video shared with fans today (May 26). "The texture is changing, it's bad right now," she added. The It usually starts several years before a woman reaches her menopause, which officially begins when you haven't had a period for 12 months. Read more on perimenopause It is during perimenopause, when oestrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate . This is when it's common to experience difficult symptoms like It can also lead to hair thinning and loss as hormone levels affect the hair growth cycle. The condition usually affects women in their 40s but can sometimes begin in the 30s - as in Dani's case. It's less common but not unusual. Most read in Health Mentally, Dani has also suffered. 'My whole personality had pretty much changed,' she revealed, adding that her husband Simon was the first to notice. She has experienced brain fog, night sweats, sleep interruptions, depression, and anxiety. Specific types of HRT found to raise risk of heart disease and blood clots After visiting a female GP and having blood tests, she was 'diagnosed pretty swiftly.' 'I felt like I was being possessed by someone else," she said. Studies suggest women are 40 per cent more likely to experience depression during the perimenopause, something which the TV star experienced acutely. "It was horrible," she said. "I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression.' Dani was prescribed hormone replacement therapy ( 4 Dani has suffered hair loss and depression as a result of the condition Credit: Getty It's usually prescribed to women to help balance hormone levels and relieve common symptoms. Dani has been on HRT for around 18 months and said she 'feels like myself again.' When does perimenopause start? The perimenopause is a natural stage of life. In most people it will happen naturally between the ages of 45 and 55 and last for a few months to several years. It can even last a decade or more. During the perimenopause, your hormone levels change and your ovaries start to produce fewer eggs. Once you haven't had a period for 12 months or more, you've officially reached the menopause. Some people start experiencing the perimenopause before they are 40. This can be as a result of medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries, but sometimes there's no cause. If you think you're experiencing the perimenopause before you're 40 then you must speak to your doctor. Source: Bupa
