Dani Harmer

Danielle Jane Harmer (born 8 February 1989) is an English actress, television personality, and former singer. She is best known for her lead role as Tracy Beaker in the CBBC series The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006), Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA in 2010, The Tracy Beaker Survival Files (2011–2012), My Mum Tracy Beaker, and The Beaker Girls (2022–2023).

Harmer played the role of Molly Louise Venables in the BBC One comedy series After You've Gone (2007–2008). She starred in her own CBBC sitcom Dani's House (2008–2012), which received several awards and nominations from BAFTA Kids, and its spin-off Dani's Castle (2013–2014). Harmer also occasionally presented Friday Download and continuity clips for CBBC.

In 2008, Harmer branched into the music industry and signed a £3m record deal with Universal Group. She recorded her debut studio album, Superheroes, in September 2009, and released the single and theme from Dani's House, "Free", but the album was never released and it was later confirmed she had abandoned her music career indefinitely.

In 2012, Harmer competed in the fourth series of Let's Dance for Sport Relief alongside Tyger Drew-Honey, in which they both finished as joint runners-up. Later that year, she competed in the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Vincent Simone, reaching the final and finishing in fourth place.

In 2022, Harmer directed scenes of The Beaker Girls, and in 2024 she directed her first full episode of The Dumping Ground, going on to direct their online content the following series.

Early life Danielle Jane Harmer was born and raised in her hometown Bracknell, Berkshire, to parents Jill, a former legal worker and children's casting agent, and Andy Harmer, a mechanic and chauffeur. Her parents are now divorced. She has a younger sister named Betsy, who works as a hairdresser. Harmer won a scholarship to attend Redroofs Theatre School at the age of seven, and left with three GCSEs. She has appeared in a number of pantomimes: Dolly Mixture in Snow White (2004), the title character in Peter Pan (2005, Alban Arena, 2006 in Worthing and 2010 in High Wycombe), Dick Whittington (2007, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre) and the title role in Cinderella alongside Joe Tracini (2012, York Barbican) to name a few. She appeared as an extra in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Her big break arrived when she landed the title role in CBBC's dramedy series The Story of Tracy Beaker, in which she starred for five series, and in the accompanying feature-length film Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me.

Her other TV credits include the ITV drama series Trial & Retribution, My Family, Pie in the Sky, The 10th Kingdom, Beast, Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor, "Beep Beep" in the British television series The Beeps, and the pilot for Coming of Age. She was one of the presenters known as "packers" in the 2006 series of the Saturday morning show Mighty Truck of Stuff.

In November 2008, The Guardian reported that After You've Gone was to be cancelled by the BBC, due to ITV moving Coronation Street to the same slot on ITV1. The BBC had announced a fourth series of the show in January of that year to be aired in 2009; however, the series ended with a Christmas special in 2008.

In 2008, Harmer signed a record deal with record label Universal/Decca worth £3 million, under the management of Daniel Glatman, some time before beginning work on her debut album. The album was recorded and written in 2008 with the help of producer and songwriter Tom Nichols, and entitled Superheroes. The album's lead and only single "Free" was released on 25 May 2009, after becoming the theme song of the TV show Dani's House, in which Harmer plays the lead role. The song reached number 117 on the Official Chart. "Free" was featured on the compilation album Pop Princesses 2009. The scheduled release date of Superheroes was October 2009, which was later pushed back to early 2010. Rumours circulated that the album had been cancelled by Harmer's record company due to poor sales of the lead single, she responded that "they are just waiting for the right time to release it". No further comment was made until mid-2012, when Harmer stated via Twitter that she had given up music because she wanted to focus on her acting career. The album never surfaced, but the artwork and 30-second previews of each track were released in early 2010, along with the track list. The song is still available to stream on Spotify.

Harmer returned to the role of Tracy Beaker in early 2010 in the 13-episode BBC series Tracy Beaker Returns, in which her character had developed into a care worker and had written an autobiography about what life is like for children in care. Three series aired of Tracy Beaker Returns. It concluded on 23 March 2012, due to Harmer deciding to quit her role as Tracy. A spin-off was created called The Dumping Ground but did not feature her, though she did return for two episodes at the end of series 6, and one episode in series 13 for a cameo appearance. She then starred in another TV show called Dani's Castle, a spin-off from Dani's House. This aired at the start of 2013 and ended in 2015.

Harmer was due to star as Jane in Disco Inferno, which was planned to tour across the UK in autumn 2012. However, it was announced on 5 September 2012, after an investor pulled out, that the musical had been cancelled. Harmer confirmed via her Twitter account on the same day that she would be a contestant on the upcoming tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.

She portrayed Janet in the 2013 UK tour of the stage production The Rocky Horror Show.

In 2018, Harmer joined 26 other celebrities and performed an original Christmas song called Rock With Rudolph, written and produced by Grahame and Jack Corbyn. The song was recorded in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital and was released digitally on independent record label Saga Entertainment on 30 November 2018 under the artist name The Celebs. The music video debuted exclusively with The Sun on 29 November 2018, and had its first TV showing on Good Morning Britain on 30 November 2018. The song peaked at number two on the iTunes pop chart.

In 2020, it was announced that Harmer would be reprising the role of Tracy Beaker in the 2021 CBBC series, My Mum Tracy Beaker. It follows Tracy as a single mother and is based around her relationship with her 10 year-old daughter Jess (Emma Maggie Davies).

In 2022, Harmer assisted with directing on The Beaker Girls alongside her acting role, going on to make her director debut with a full episode of The Dumping Ground in 2025.

In September 2025, Harmer was announced to appear in the seventh series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK as a special celebrity guest during a makeover challenge (episode "The Hun Makeover").

The Dani Harmer Academy is a performing arts academy founded and run by Harmer in Berkshire. The academy offers educational classes such as drama, dance and singing, for children and young people. Harmer is also an acting coach at the academy.

Personal life On 28 June 2016, Harmer gave birth to her daughter, Avarie-Belle Betsy Rachel Brough. In August 2021, Harmer and her partner Simon Brough announced that she was pregnant with their second child. On 7 February 2022, Harmer gave birth to her son, Rowan León James Brough.

Harmer made a political remark in 2019 after filming a video where she adapted her Tracy Beaker line into "Bog off Tories!" She expressed her support for the Labour Party through a tweet stating: "Off to vote Labour." She has expressed support for transgender people on social media app Threads.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1997 Pie in the Sky Twin (Lessy) Episode: "The Apprentice" 1999–2002 Trial & Retribution Amy Walker 4 episodes 2000 The 10th Kingdom Merrypip Girl Mini-series; 1 episode 2001 Beast Emily Episode: "Lamb" 2002–2006 The Story of Tracy Beaker Tracy Beaker Lead role (series 1–4); recurring role (series 5) 2003 My Family Trick or Treater Episode: "Friday the 31st" Sleeping Beauty Uncovered Good Fairy Television film 2004 Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me Tracy Beaker 2005 Celebrity Weakest Link Herself Contestant (Christmas Special) 2005–2006 Dick & Dom in da Bungalow 3 episodes 2006 The Children's Party at the Palace Tracy Beaker Television Special Mighty Truck of Stuff Packer Episode: "Mum's Off" 2007 Coming of Age Chloe Pilot episode SMart Herself Guest presenter; 1 episode Touch Me I'm Karen Taylor Various Unknown episodes 2007–2008 The Beeps Beep Beep (voice) Series 1 & 2; 45 episodes After You've Gone Molly Venables Main role (series 1–3; 25 episodes) 2008–2012 Dani's House Dani / Co-ordinator Zark Lead role (series 1–5; 65 episodes) 2010 Little Crackers Young Jo (voice) Episode: "Jo Brand's Little Cracker: Goodbye Fluff" My Life Herself Narrator, episode: "Billboard Kids" 2010–2012 The Wright Stuff Panellist; 7 episodes Tracy Beaker Returns Tracy Beaker Lead role (series 1–3) 2011 Tracy Beaker Survival Files Lead role (13 episodes) Friday Download Herself Guest presenter, 4 episodes Hacker Time Episode: "Dani Harmer" 2012 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant; 4th place Pointless Celebrities Contestant, series 2; episode 6 2013 Walk on the Wild Side Guest presenter; 1 episode 2013–2014 Dani's Castle Dani Lead role; also associate producer (series 1 & 2; 26 episodes) 2014 Let's Dance for Sport Relief Herself Contestant; runner-up 2015 Pointless Celebrities Contestant, series 7; episode 7: "The Noughties" Sarah & Duck Rainbow's Niece (voice) Episode: "Rainbow's Niece" 2018 The Chase: Celebrity Special Herself Contestant; 1 episode 2018–2021 Saturday Mash-Up! 4 episodes 2018 The Dumping Ground Tracy Beaker Series 6; episodes 23 & 24 2019 Secret Life of Boys Herself Episode: "Chris and Tell" 2020 Pointless Celebrities Contestant, series 12; episode 16: "Children's TV" Celebrity Come Dine with Me 5 episodes 2021 My Mum Tracy Beaker Tracy Beaker Main role (3 episodes) Ricky Wilson's Art Jam Herself Episode: "Dani Harmer"2021–2023 The Beaker GirlsTracy BeakerMain role (series 1 & 2; 17 episodes) 2022 Celebrity Mastermind Herself Contestant; 1 episode Kids' TV: The Surprising Story Television Special 2025 The Dumping GroundTracy BeakerSeries 13; episode 6DirectorSeries 13; episode 8 (main); episode 9 (assistant)Richard Osman's House of Games HerselfContestant, 5 episodes RuPaul's Drag Race UKSpecial guest / makeover guest; (series 7; 1 episode)

Theatre

Strictly Come Dancing

Harmer competed in the tenth series of the BBC ballroom dancing show Strictly Come Dancing, in 2012. She was paired up with Vincent Simone and the couple succeeded in reaching the grand final and finished in fourth place.

Awards and nominations Winner of the 2010 Children's BAFTA for Best Drama, Harmer was nominated for her performance as Tracy Beaker in its various incarnations, with the programme attracting a nomination in the Children's Drama Category at the 2011 RTS Awards. Harmer was nominated for a BAFTA Cymru for Best Actress for her performance in Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me. Dani's House, her own hit CBBC show received a 2009 Children's BAFTA nomination.

In 2009, Harmer received a Gold Blue Peter Badge for her role in Tracy Beaker.