Dani Harmer - Career

Career

She made her stage debut at the age of 5 in the musical The Who's Tommy in the West End. 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 (2011, York Barbican). Other stage credits include a 2005 production of The Wizard of Oz at the Sunderland Empire Theatre. Harmer appeared as an extra in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone; she was sitting in the Great Hall when the new students to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry took turns to visit the Sorting Hat. Her big break was when she landed the title role in CBBC's dramedy series The Story of Tracy Beaker, which she starred in for five series and also the feature length film, Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me. She also went to Redroof Theatre school as a child. Dani has been beloved by a lot of children by starring in The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Tracy Beaker Returns and Dani's House.

Her other TV credits include the ITV drama series Trial & Retribution, Casualty, 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, Media 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 March 2010, Harmer starred in The Wizard of Oz at The Journal Tyne Theatre in Newcastle.

Dani 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. A spin-off has been confirmed but is not to feature Harmer. Dani is due to star in another TV show which will be called Dani's Castle. This is a spin-off from the previous series called Dani's House. This will air in 2013.

Dani appeared on the celebrity version of the gameshow Pointless in a team with Joe Pasquale, playing for the charity Make A Wish Foundation. The two reached the final, but failed to win the jackpot. Dani did manage to score one 'Pointless' answer during the course of the show.

Dani was due to star as 'Jane' in Disco Inferno, which was planned tour across the UK in autumn 2012. However it was announced on 5 September 2012 that the musical was cancelled after an investor pulled out. Dani confirmed via her Twitter account on the same day that she would be a contestant on the upcoming tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. In the first week of the competition she performed the Waltz and scored 21/40. In Week 2 she performed the Salsa and scored 27/40. In Week 3 she performed the Foxtrot and scored 29/40. In week 4 she performed a Cha Cha Cha and scored 27/40. In Week 5 she performed a Jive she scored 33/40. In Week 6 she performed a Tango and scored 34/40. In Week 7 she performed a Quickstep and scored 36/40. In week 8 she performed a Samba and scored 36/40. In week 9 she performed a Vienesse Waltz and scored 34/40. In week 10 she performed the fusion of the chileston and the quickstep and scored 38/40.