Latest news with #TracyBeakerReturns
Metro
26-05-2025
- 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
26-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Former child star, 36, bravely opens up about perimenopause diagnosis
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER child star has left people stunned after revealing she's been diagnosed with perimenopause. Dani Harmer is most famous for playing Tracy Beaker - Jacqueline Wilson's curly-haired schoolgirl - in the TV show from 2002 to 2005. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Dani Harmer took to TikTok to open up about her struggle with perimenopause Credit: tiktok/@ 3 She said that she's been really suffering with hair loss Credit: tiktok/@ 3 Dani is most famous for playing curly-haired schoolgirl Tracy Beaker in the TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's books Credit: CBBC She also reprised the role in the spinoffs Tracy Beaker Returns in 2010, The Dumping Ground in 2013, and My Mum Tracy Beaker and The Beaker Girls in 2021. Dani is now 36, and opened up about her health struggle in a video on her TikTok page, as she admitted it's taken a massive toll on her famous ringlets. "I have been diagnosed with perimenopause," she said. "And what I need your help with is my hair. "I am losing it like it is thinning so badly like you can see like the bald patches coming in but just like the texture. "It's thinning - it's bad right." She went on to ask whether she should get hair extensions, but added she was worried that they would make her tresses even worse. "It could be a terrible idea. it might make my hair even worse to be honest but it's really getting me down now!" she admitted, adding that she's also taking collagen supplements after being gifted them. As for how she was diagnosed with perimenopause, Dani admitted it was her husband Simon who first noticed that her " whole personality had pretty much changed". In addition to an increase in her depression and anxiety, she had bad "brain fog", night sweats and sleep interruptions. I've always had very thin hair but perimenopause made it worse -my little secret from Amazon fills in my bald spots "There was just too much to ignore," Dani admitted. So she went to the GP, saw a female doctor, and got a "diagnosis pretty swiftly". They also did blood tests to rule anything else out. "I felt like I was being possessed by someone else, it was horrible - I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression," she sighed. "So I'm really glad that I went and I got help. "My doctor was more than happy to put me on HRT." What is the menopause and how does it affect women? The menopause is a transitional period all women go through in mid-life. Hormones related to the reproductive system deplete namely oestrogen, over a period of time. This doesn't just cause periods to stop. Sex hormones act all over the body, from the brain, skin, vagina and more. Therefore, dozens of symptoms affect all areas of the body, to varying degrees. Women's experiences of menopause vary greatly. While some breeze through it, others' lives are significantly impacted. It can feel as though it lasts a couple of years, or for decades. It cannot be predicted how each woman will fare. When is menopause? Perimenopause is when symptoms start but periods have not yet stopped, although they will be irregular. This can start in the early 40s. Menopause is when periods have completely stopped for a year. The average age this happens is 51, but it can be any time from 45 to 55, according to the NHS. The term 'menopause' is used to describe the experience overall. Menopause before the age of 45 is called early menopause, affecting five per cent of women. Menopause before the age of 40 is called premature menopause, affecting one per cent of women before 40 and 0.1 per cent of women under 30. This may happen for no clear reason, but also as a result of surgery, genetics or medications. A year after that the final period, a woman is considered to be entering the post-menopausal stage. How does it impact a woman's life? The menopause can be an extremely testing time in a woman's life and for those around her. The body is going through a significant change, and the symptoms that come with it can feel alien, with women sometimes describing a loss of sense of self. Physical symptoms include hot flushes (a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest), difficulty sleeping, night sweats, heart palpitations, headaches, muscle and joint aches, weight skin, skin changes, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and more. Symptoms affecting mental health or cognition include brain fog, memory loss, low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem and irritation. There are ways to manage symptoms and cope with menopause - and women need to know that they are not alone in facing it. Medication, such as HRT or oestrogen gel, can help attack the symptoms. However, experts often say it needs a rounded approach incorporating good lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and less alcohol. Many women report that their life began after menopause after it drew them to a healthier way of living. However, the huge burden it can have - on work, family life and more - is important for society to recognise, as adapting policies at work, for example, can make it easier for women to stick with their job. Read more about menopause on The Sun's Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign. Dani said she's been on HRT for around 18 months, and "feels like myself again". She's also lost the weight she gained during lockdown. And while she still has the "odd hot flush and stuff", the only lasting side effect is the hair loss. Dani concluded her video by offering to try and answer any questions anyone wanted to ask her about perimenopause. "I'm definitely no expert at all! But if anyone has any questions I'll try and answer using my experiences," she added in the caption. In the comments section, people shared their hair regrowth tips for Dani, with one writing: "Kerastase Genesis serum, once a day". "Oil once a week on hair wash day and your hair will be thicker in a month." "Try weleda hair tonic! It's so good," another added. "Rosemary oil on TikTok shop," a third commented. While others praised Dani for speaking about her perimenopause struggle. "I think I'm suffering with perimenopause too!" one wrote. "Kinda scary as I'm 34, but this video makes me feel so much better about it." "So proud of you talking about this babe," another added. As a third said: "Thanks so much for talking about it. I've felt so alone and confused at times with it!!" One person admitted they'd been left stunned by the fact Dani was old enough to have perimenopause - considering they still think of her as a teenager in Tracy Beaker. "Whaaaaat? You're about 17yrs old!" they exclaimed.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Former child star, 36, bravely opens up about perimenopause diagnosis
A FORMER child star has left people stunned after revealing she's been diagnosed with perimenopause. Dani Harmer is most famous for playing Tracy Beaker - Jacqueline Wilson's curly-haired schoolgirl - in the TV show from 2002 to 2005. Advertisement 3 Dani Harmer took to TikTok to open up about her struggle with perimenopause Credit: tiktok/@ 3 She said that she's been really suffering with hair loss Credit: tiktok/@ 3 Dani is most famous for playing curly-haired schoolgirl Tracy Beaker in the TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's books Credit: CBBC She also reprised the role in the spinoffs Tracy Beaker Returns in 2010, The Dumping Ground in 2013, and My Mum Tracy Beaker and The Beaker Girls in 2021. Dani is now 36, and opened up about her health struggle in a "I have been diagnosed with perimenopause," she said. "And what I need your help with is my hair. Advertisement Read more Health stories "I am losing it like it is thinning so badly like you can see like the bald patches coming in but just like the texture. "It's thinning - it's bad right." She went on to ask whether she should get hair extensions, but added she was worried that they would make her tresses even worse. "It could be a terrible idea. it might make my hair even worse to be honest but it's really getting me down now!" she admitted, adding that she's also taking collagen supplements after being gifted them. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous As for how she was diagnosed with perimenopause, Dani admitted it was her husband Simon who first noticed that her " whole personality had pretty much changed". In addition to an increase in her depression and anxiety, she had bad "brain fog", night sweats and sleep interruptions. I've always had very thin hair but perimenopause made it worse -my little secret from Amazon fills in my bald spots "There was just too much to ignore," Dani admitted. So she went to the GP, saw a female doctor, and got a "diagnosis pretty swiftly". Advertisement They also did blood tests to rule anything else out. "I felt like I was being possessed by someone else, it was horrible - I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression," she sighed. "So I'm really glad that I went and I got help. "My doctor was more than happy to put me on HRT." Advertisement What is the menopause and how does it affect women? The menopause is a transitional period all women go through in mid-life. Hormones related to the reproductive system deplete namely oestrogen, over a period of time. This doesn't just cause periods to stop. Sex hormones act all over the body, from the brain, skin, vagina and more. Therefore, dozens of symptoms affect all areas of the body, to varying degrees. Women's experiences of menopause vary greatly. While some breeze through it, others' lives are significantly impacted. It can feel as though it lasts a couple of years, or for decades. It cannot be predicted how each woman will fare. When is menopause? Perimenopause is when symptoms start but periods have not yet stopped, although they will be irregular. This can start in the early 40s. Menopause is when periods have completely stopped for a year. The average age this happens is 51, but it can be any time from 45 to 55, according to the NHS. The term 'menopause' is used to describe the experience overall. Menopause before the age of 45 is called early menopause, affecting five per cent of women. Menopause before the age of 40 is called premature menopause, affecting one per cent of women before 40 and 0.1 per cent of women under 30. This may happen for no clear reason, but also as a result of surgery, genetics or medications. A year after that the final period, a woman is considered to be entering the post-menopausal stage. How does it impact a woman's life? The menopause can be an extremely testing time in a woman's life and for those around her. The body is going through a significant change, and the symptoms that come with it can feel alien, with women sometimes describing a loss of sense of self. Physical symptoms include hot flushes (a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest), difficulty sleeping, night sweats, heart palpitations, headaches, muscle and joint aches, weight skin, skin changes, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and more. Symptoms affecting mental health or cognition include brain fog, memory loss, low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem and irritation. There are ways to manage symptoms and cope with menopause - and women need to know that they are not alone in facing it. Medication, such as HRT or oestrogen gel, can help attack the symptoms. However, experts often say it needs a rounded approach incorporating good lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and less alcohol. Many women report that their life began after menopause after it drew them to a healthier way of living. However, the huge burden it can have - on work, family life and more - is important for society to recognise, as adapting policies at work, for example, can make it easier for women to stick with their job. Read more about menopause on The Sun's Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign. Dani said she's been on HRT for around 18 months, and "feels like myself again". She's also lost the weight she gained during lockdown. And while she still has the "odd hot flush and stuff", the only lasting side effect is the hair loss. Dani concluded her video by offering to try and answer any questions anyone wanted to ask her about perimenopause. Advertisement "I'm definitely no expert at all! But if anyone has any questions I'll try and answer using my experiences," she added in the caption. In the comments section, people shared their hair regrowth tips for Dani, with one writing: "Kerastase Genesis serum, once a day". "Oil once a week on hair wash day and your hair will be thicker in a month." "Try weleda hair tonic! It's so good," another added. Advertisement "Rosemary oil on TikTok shop," a third commented. While others praised Dani for speaking about her perimenopause struggle. "I think I'm suffering with perimenopause too!" one wrote. "Kinda scary as I'm 34, but this video makes me feel so much better about it." Advertisement "So proud of you talking about this babe," another added. As a third said: "Thanks so much for talking about it. I've felt so alone and confused at times with it!!" One person admitted they'd been left stunned by the fact Dani was old enough to have perimenopause - considering they still think of her as a teenager in Tracy Beaker. "Whaaaaat? You're about 17yrs old!" they exclaimed. Advertisement
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Tracy Beaker legend Dani Harmer was in labour for five days
Actress Dani Harmer admits she was traumatised by the birth of her first child and it influenced her decisions when she got pregnant with her second child. Dani Harmer, best known for her role as the iconic Tracy Beaker, has opened up about the traumatic birth of her first child - revealing she was in labour for five days before getting an emergency caesarean-section. She spoke about the experience to Vanessa Feltz on weekday Channel 5 show Vanessa, where she admitted that the experience left her fearing for her life. She told the show host: "I was in labour for five days. I then had to have an emergency C-section, which was really, really scary." Dani added that while the ordeal is a bit of a blur to her now because of the medication she was on while giving birth, the emotional toll it took affected her for a long time. Dani shared: "I don't remember much of it because I was drugged up on a lot of different things, but it was an experience I really didn't want to have to repeat. So when we fell pregnant with my second, I really wanted to go for an elective caesarean." Although she originally had a firm stance on wanting to deliver via operation, Dani said she faced pressure to try and give birth naturally the second time around. At the time she hit back, saying: "Unless you can guarantee me that I'm going to give birth naturally, one hundred per cent, then otherwise I will want an elective one." The traumatised actress added: "If I think back to that first birth, I can almost cry about it, and it took a really long time to get over it." Dani, now 36, shot to fame in the early 2000s playing fiery schoolgirl Tracy Beaker. She later reprised that role on various spin-offs, including Tracy Beaker Returns, The Beaker Girls and most recently, The Dumping Ground. She made her directorial debut on the last series, which is a challenge she decided to embrace after shadowing directors on set. While speaking to the BBC about her return to the franchise, Dani said: "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!" Off-screen, Dani is also a devoted mum of two. Her daughter, Avarie-Belle, now eight, has mixed feelings about her mum's famous role. While she is a fan of Jacqueline Wilson's books and spin-off shows like The Dumping Ground, she wasn't exactly blown away by the original Tracy Beaker show. Dani laughingly recalled: "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." On top of acting, Dani runs the Dani Harmer Academy, which is a LAMDA certified performing arts school that helps aspiring actors build confidence on and off screen.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Tracy Beaker star makes surprising career move after book confession
The Story of Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer has made a shock confession about the Jacqueline Wilson books that made her famous while revealing her surprising career move ' The Story of Tracy Beaker ' was a beloved British television show originally adapted from Jacqueline Wilson 's book of the same name. The show ran for five seasons from 2002 to 2005 and was adored by children nationwide. Dani Harmer, who played Tracy Beaker, has also been featured in numerous adaptations and spin-offs, portraying a care worker in Tracy Beaker Returns and a mother in The Beaker Girls. Harmer is renowned for her role as Tracy, and in the most recent season of the Beaker spin-off, The Dumping Ground, she not only made a cameo in but also made her directing debut. Surprisingly, Dani Harmer, who famously played Tracy Beaker, has admitted on TikTok that she's never actually read the original Tracy Beaker book, not even to this day. Despite becoming synonymous with the character, Harmer has said that the book simply wasn't part of her preparation or personal reading, and she even asked to 'borrow' her friend's book to go to the audition. Before her directorial debut, she shadowed The Dumping Ground directors before taking charge herself. She expressed that it was hard to take charge, but she felt comfortable directing the episode after 10 minutes behind the camera. 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!' Despite her sporadic reappearance on Beaker spin-offs, Dani Harmer is also a mother to two children, who don't seem to quite understand how influential Dani's character really is. Dani, now 36, recently revealed that her eight-year-old daughter, Avarie-Belle, wasn't impressed with the original TV series. Speaking to Fubar Radio, Dani explained that her daughter was now old enough to watch the Tracy Beaker spinoffs, but had nothing good to say about the original, which her mum starred in. Dani explained: 'She (Avarie-Belle) loves all the Jacqueline Wilson books. She continued: "She's read Tracy Beaker, actually….. She's watched quite a lot of The Dumping Ground, and 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.' Besides acting, Dani branched into the world of music back in 2008 after signing an impressive £3 million record deal with Universal. However, despite recording her debut album, 'Superheroes,' it was never released, and Dani later confirmed she had given up on her music career. Now, Dani continues to appear on British TV while also running her own performing arts academy, the Dani Harmer Academy. The academy, which is certified by the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA), offers classes for adults and children who want to develop their skills and confidence on and off screen.
