Tyler and Jody had become friends, and Jody frequently played pranks on him, such placing Carmen’s henna on top of Faith’s room door so that it would fall on top of Faith and deceiving Johnny into thinking Tyler had a wealthy father.
Before the S.O.S. episode, Jody was sent back to live with her mother and brothers. Jody had a ton of brand-new clothing and gifts, so everything appeared to be fine in Carmen’s and Tyler’s eyes. In reality, Kingsley, Jody’s brother, was in charge of the family, had taken a number of items, and had confined Jody in her bedroom. It turned out that everything had been a lie. Tyler and Carmen learned about this, and Jody moved back in at the Dumping Ground.
During the Oh, Mo! After learning that Elektra was interested in Mo’s pearls, Jody joins the search for the pearls and assists Elektra in stringing them together to form the entire necklace. She returned the pearls to Mo after finding that Mo intended to give them to Tee, much to Elektra’s displeasure.
In This Article...
When was Kai Pegg born?
Kia Pegg, 17, is best known for playing Jody Jackson in the CBBC series The Dumping Ground. She has been acting since she was very little. Kia had acting experience, including as Vicious Vicky in Horrid Henry: The Movie, before she was cast in Tracy Beaker Returns. We talked to Kia when she was taking a break from filming The Dumping Ground about her character Jody, growing up on TV, and most recently earning an award.
Since The Dumping Ground premiered in 2013, you have been portraying Jody Jackson. How was it like growing up on a set for a well-known TV program?
Growing up on set was both very enjoyable and quite labor-intensive. Although the cast and crew have a great time while filming and are very close, I think sometimes it’s overstated just how hard everyone works. particularly the young ones! Though it was an incredible experience, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
My favorite aspect of Jody is how fascinating she is. She strikes the perfect mix between a “good character” and a “bad character.” Although Jody frequently makes poor choices and loses her cool, she truly cares about the other children and has a strong sense of fairness. She is a lot of fun and never boring because of this!
Jody and I probably resembled each other more when we were younger, but as I’ve played her for more time, that has altered. She is far more irritated than I am, but she also has a lot more things go wrong in her life. She is also much braver than I think I am because of everything she has been through on the show!
How was filming Tracy Beaker to The Dumping Ground different from when you originally played Jody in the most recent season of Tracy Beaker Returns?
Unfortunately, all of the noteworthy bits I’ve recorded are in unaired episodes! However, I’ll always remember the first scene I ever shot. This was the scene where Jody and Tracy had to enter the jelly bath. Another one that stands out is the “farce scene” in which Annabelle Davis hides with the package in the cabinet. That day, we had way too much fun!
The nicest birthday I ever had was on set! Since Ruben (Reuter) and I are great friends in real life, the fact that we get to celebrate together because he is only one day older than me makes it my most favorite thing ever. I made posters and other decorations for his birthday, Ruben took a camera around the entire cast and crew to make me a special birthday video, and then we all went bowling. Sincerely, I adore it so much!
On set, nobody is particularly a prankster, but everyone is hilarious! Every day, Connor Lawson, Ruben, Annabelle, and I had lunch with one another as part of our Lunchtime Club, which was hilarious! It was a lot of fun for Annabelle and I to take photos while we explored the building.
Are you still in touch with the original cast members, considering that many of them have left?
Though we don’t often speak, I still keep in touch with the majority of the former cast members. Though we don’t always talk to one other, we are the best kind of friends. When we do reconnect, it’s impossible to tell that we went for a while without seeing one another.
The wrap celebration was fantastic. We had a great night, and it was the sweetest way to give everyone props for (what I consider to be) the best season ever!
I’m working so hard to make up for all the college work I missed! I participate in The Television Workshop, which is fantastic. I’ve missed it a lot, and each session makes me remember why. I believe that when I’m not at Workshop, I let my guard down too much and lose a little of my self-confidence. Workshop always restores that! I’m hanging out with my friends, family, and horses.
What can you tell us about the film The Quiet One, for which you most recently received the Birmingham Film Festival’s Best Young Actor award?
I was about twelve years old when I had a little part in that production, which was an independent film. However, it’s a fairly cool movie that is now doing well in film festivals.
How much fun was it to shoot Horrid Henry: The Movie in 2011, in which you portrayed Vicious Vicky?
Horrid Even though I eventually lost my voice from growling, Henry was a lot of fun, and I still remember that now.
How was your previous pantomime experience, and will you be playing one this year?
I had a good time at panto, but I won’t go back. In addition to having to work so hard in college, I’ve been working all summer and would just like to spend some time at home. However, I will be a part of a play that The Television Workshop will perform in 2019!
Do you intend to continue acting and how do you want Jody to depart because your time on The Dumping Ground will eventually come to an end?
Acting is what I love above everything else, therefore I definitely intend to keep doing it! However, I’m studying to become a teacher as well; everyone has a backup strategy. As long as Jody goes with someone, I don’t care how she travels. I would prefer that she go alone. I detest the thought of her living by herself.
Bracknell beginnings
The daughter of chauffeur Andy and children’s casting agent Jill, Dani was born in Bracknell in 1989. Her younger sister Betsy works as a hairdresser, and she is the older of two girls.
Acting classes at Stagecoach were taken by the young Dani as early as age five. She received a scholarship at age seven and attended Maidenhead’s Redroofs Theatre School, graduating with three GCSEs.
She made her West End debut at the young age of six in the rock opera The Who’s Tommy in 1994, and in 1999, she landed a part in Annie.
Pie in the Sky (1997), Trial and Retribution (1999, 2002), Beast (2001), and one other US fantasy drama, The 10th Kingdom, all included small roles (2000).
She made her film debut at age 11 in a small, uncredited appearance as a Hogwarts student in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001).
Dani’s major break came from Tracy Beaker, who also helped her land parts in My Family, Mighty Truck of Stuff, and the chaotic classic of surreal children’s television, Dick and Dom in da Bungalow.
She started acting in pantomimes as well, playing roles in Snow White, Peter Pan, Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Robin Hood, and the Wizard of Oz.
She received the coveted Gold Blue Peter Badge in 2009 for her portrayal of Tracy Beaker, and in 2010 she won the Children’s BAFTA for Best Drama. Other honors nominated included a 2011 RTS Award, a BAFTA Cymru, and a 2009 Children’s BAFTA.
A triple threat
The multi-talented Dani has ventured outside of acting. She secured a $3 million record deal with Universal Group in 2008, and in 2009 she recorded a studio album named Superheroes.
She competed on the tenth season of Strictly Come Dancing in 2012 and found greater popularity as a dancer than a vocalist. She was successful in making it to the finals when paired with Vincent Simone, winning numerous nines and tens in the process.
Olympic gymnast Louis Smith, who arguably had a slight unfair advantage, would ultimately win the series.
BerkshireLive email updates: We bring the stories to you
It only takes a few seconds and requires pressing this link, entering your email address, and then following the instructions.
On most desktop and mobile devices, you can also input your address in the area below the image at the top of this page.
By clicking here and checking in, you can also register for our website and leave comments on our stories.
Successful sequels
In the feature-length television film Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me, which wrapped up the Tracy Beaker saga, the emo teenager Tracy finally found adoption into a loving family.
The follow-up television series The Dumping Ground (2013present), which continues the story of the children’s home and occasionally uses Tracy as a guest star character, and Tracy Beaker Returns (20102012), which saw Tracy return as a care worker.
In the television series My Mum Tracy Beaker (2021), in which the adoptive girlwho has since written her autobiographyfaces single parenthood, dating, and reconciliation with her birth motherDani took back the lead role.
According to CBBC, the series had their best-ever program debut, garnering 2.1 million iPlayer streams in the first three days of its availability.
Two independent series
Between 2008 and 2015, CBBC aired the BAFTA-nominated Dani’s House and Dani’s Castle series.
She still performs in theater, and in the 2013 UK tour of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Show, she portrayed leading lady Janet.
The Beaker Girls, a five-part spin-off series, will feature Tracy once again.
Ongoing success
In Berkshire, the performer also started an acting academy. Dani occasionally teaches young aspiring actors at the Dani Harmer Academy, which has locations in Crowthorne and Binfield.
Dani has apparently built a personal fortune of roughly $2.1 million as a result of all of her endeavors, though she refuted the assertion that she was a “multi-millionaire” when it was made on Twitter earlier this year.
With her partner Simon Brough, she currently has a 4-year-old daughter and is currently pregnant with a second child.
The celebrity used specialized references to film icons when she posted a baby ultrasound photo online with her 141,000 fans. Han Solo has Chewie, she noted. Sam is with Frodo. Donkey was with Shrek.
Be ready for the exploits of Avarie-Belle and the as-yet-unnamed bump, which will start in February 2022.
Dani Harmer has performed in a variety of roles, including that of a stage performer, a movie star, a panto regular, a singer, and a dancer. But Tracy Beaker will always be her most recognizable identity to the majority of us.
Why did Elektra depart from the dump?
Elektra grew upset that Mike and Gina were going to tell her something but they didn’t when the kids were left at home alone after Mike went on vacation and Gina ended up in the hospital when Harry accidentally set off an antique bomb that was from a box of several that Johnny had discovered. She gained access to Mike’s computer and saw an email that appeared to say that Mike and Gina were planning to eject her from Elmtree House. She then made an attempt to escape on her own (though Faith tried to stop her). After Tyler and Frank claimed they were robbed of the money intended for food, Elektra forced them to assist her in booking a trip to Australia for the “Are You the Young Leader of Tomorrow?” competition (when she actually knew that they had squandered it). When Johnny and Tee revolted against her, she also imprisoned them in the coal bunker. Elektra was forced to apologize to the children and assist in cleaning up the mess they caused when she realized she was unable to participate in it all. Gina later returned and informed Elektra that she and Mike were considering having Elektra move closer to Melissa and Harvey, but she had missed the chance because of what she had done.
Elektra (along with Faith) became irritated when Johnny expressed his opinions about whether homosexuals should be allowed to foster children when a lesbian couple arrived at Elmtree House with the intention of potentially adopting Gus, but later went to see him to comfort him because what he’d said caused Tee to get angry and Elektra felt bad for him. Elektra grew irritated at being compelled to serve as a maid to Johnny who was made the lord of the manor during a trip to an ancient house where the kids, Mike, and Gina would all dress up as aristocratic people and their slaves from the Edwardian era for the day. Johnny wanted to make up for it by making everyone breakfast the following day, but his important position forced him to go overboard and make a mess of the outing.
Tyler fired water bombs out of the open window as Elektra collaborated on songs with Rick in his room. Elektra was upset about what had transpired and accidentally damaged Rick’s recordings by stepping on them (while getting further angered when Tyler blamed her for what had happened). Later, she began making fun of Tyler for appearing to be insane, which was only fueled by the fact that Tyler was hearing a dripping sound that no one else could. Elektra and Rick were worried for Tyler, so they quickly located him in the attic and discovered that the dripping was coming from a leak that was directly above Tyler’s room and the bathroom. Tyler later struck Elektra with another water bomb, but she still applauded his aim. Elektra made fun of Johnny for being afraid of the snake that ended up in his room after she tried to trap it but it fled. Johnny discovered that it appeared to be a coral snakewhich are venomousafter Elektra was able to take a picture of it, and the two were alarmed. Elektra kicked it off after it got stuck on her shoe since she thought it was a poisonous snake when Faith’s brother Razz’s former gang mates discovered it and fled. However, Razz later disclosed that it was a milk snake before he departed.
Elektra eventually relocated to Ashdene Ridge for a brief length of time before leaving the area off-screen.
After Leaving Care
Elektra had a relationship with a lad named Matt at some point after leaving The Dumping Ground, as was revealed in the Instagram drama “After The DG.” Unfortunately, he started to be physically and mentally cruel to Elektra, forbade her from communicating with or seeing her friends, and even even locked her in a room. When Melissa learned that Matt was abusing Elektra but did nothing about it, this contributed to the breakup between Elektra and Melissa. Thankfully, Elektra was able to leave Matt’s toxic relationship and relocate to her own home after leaving Melissa’s home. While studying to become a mechanic, she also began her own online T-shirt business. Elektra eventually earned her mechanic’s license and landed a job at a nearby garage; Melissa didn’t even congratulate her on the accomplishment.