List of Tracy Beaker Returns characters

This is a list of characters that were introduced in CBBC's Tracy Beaker Returns. The series is based on The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson. It ran on for three series from 2010 to 2012. The series follows The Story of Tracy Beaker that ran for five series from 2002 to 2005 and it is followed by The Dumping Ground that has aired since 2013. Connor Byrne has played the role of Mike Milligan for all three programmes although he left in the seventh series to live with his family in Ireland. Dani Harmer and Lisa Coleman reprised their roles as Tracy Beaker and Cam Lawson for Tracy Beaker Returns.

Gina Conway, played by Kay Purcell, is a careworker at Elm Tree House in Tracy Beaker Returns and the first series of The Dumping Ground. She first appeared on 8 January 2010, the start of Tracy Beaker Returns, and continued appearing until 15 March 2013, the final episode in series 1 of The Dumping Ground.

Gina is of Jamaican descent with black and highlighted hair. She is kind and a great house mother to the children. Gina is very clever towards the children and the residents seem to respect her. She is able to control the children without them resenting her interventions, however the children sometimes see her as loud and brash when she is angry. But sometimes that is the only way to get them to listen too her.

Gina first encounters Tracy Beaker (Dani Harmer) when she opens the door to her after Tracy arrives at the Dumping Ground. Not really understanding who Tracy is, Gina tells Tracy that Mike Milligan (Connor Bryne) has gone out somewhere. Gina is sympathetic and lets Tracy in as it is pouring with rain outside. The kids at the Dumping Ground recognise Tracy from a television broadcast and Tracy gives a copy of her signed autobiography to Gina for 99p less. Gina allows Tracy to tuck all the kids into their beds. When Tracy finally talks to Mike, he accidentally lets slip to Gina that Tracy was arrested for using Cam Lawson (Lisa Coleman)'s credit card. Gina is angry because she let Tracy put the kids to bed. Gina does not warm to Tracy at first, but grows to adore her and usually stand up for her. Gina then encounters trouble with one of the older children, Sapphire Fox (Saffron Coomber) when she doesn't allow her to go with her father on his tour, but that was for safety reasons. Gina is strict but cares very much about the kids.

Gina appears throughout "The Dumping Ground"'s first series, continuing her role as a care worker, however, at the beginning of series 2, new care worker, May-Li Wang reveals that Gina no longer works at the care home. Head writer (at the time) Elly Brerwer confirmed on Twitter that Gina had been given a bit of a promotion, in order to be able to afford to keep her mum Hattie in a care home. Gina's mum Hattie has dementia, she made an appearance in the 8th episode of Series 1. Gina has been mentioned 3 times after her off-screen departure, by May-Li in Jody in Wonderland, Mike in Hope (Series 2, Episode 12) and Tyler in Snake (Series 7, Episode 8)

She has a husband named Greg, who calls her "Snugglebum", and is the president of the local Rotary Club where Gina is practicing her ballroom dancing for in "Snake Bite".

She is also fond of her plants, and is shown to be distressed when Johnny angrily smashes her plant in "What You Don't Know". She also kept a slipper orchid in "Secrets", which Frank calls "her alien plant". In "By the Book" Gina lets Tee water her plant, but repeatedly tells her to stop pouring it as she "is hurting the plant", which leads to Tee snapping at her to do it herself and storming out.

Carmen Howle, portrayed by Amy-Leigh Hickman, made her first appearance on 8 January 2010 in series 1 of Tracy Beaker Returns during the episode Full Circle. She departed in series 4 during the episode One For Sorrow.