Adaptations
A dramatisation of Wilson's Double Act, written and directed by Vicky Ireland, was first performed at The Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, London from 30 January to 12 April 2003 and toured throughout the UK. The playscript was published by Collins Plays Plus. Ireland has also written dramatisations of The Lottie Project (performed at Polka Theatre and San Pol Theatre, Madrid), Midnight, Bad Girls and Secrets, which were also commissioned by the Polka Theatre, and a dramatisation of The Suitcase Kid which was performed at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond and later toured throughout the UK. The scripts for these plays were published by Nick Hern Books.
The following books by Wilson have been adapted for television:
Cliffhanger (1995, Channel 4). Part of Look, See and Read, two-part drama.
Double Act (2002, Channel 4). Starring twins Zoe and Chloe Tempest-Jones as Ruby and Garnet, with a special appearance by Jacqueline Wilson as the casting director at the auditions. This was a one-off 100-minute feature.
The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006, CBBC). Starring Dani Harmer as Tracy and Lisa Coleman (whose sister, Charlotte, appeared in Double Act as Miss Debenham) as Cam. Original broadcast dates: 8 January 2002 – 9 February 2006. Originally the series was broadcast as stand-a-lone 15 minute episodes between 2002 and 2004 before two 15 minute episodes were edited together in a half our time block on the CBBC channel with certain scenes deleted and Series 1 and 2 being broadcast out of sequence compared to the original broadcast. Series 4 & 5 were made as 11 (series 4) and 10 (series 5) double half hour episodes. The unedited 2002-2004 episodes have been broadcast on CBBC since 2007 but iPlayer uses the edited 2004 episodes of series 1-3.
The Illustrated Mum (2003, Channel 4). Starring former EastEnders star Michelle Collins as Marigold Westward, who won a BAFTA Award for her role, and who went on to play Stella Price in Coronation Street, Alice Connor as Dolphin Westward and Holly Grainger as Star Westward. This was a four-part mini-series but later shown as a full feature with no ad breaks. It was again repeated at Christmas 2004. Original broadcast date: 5 December 2003.
Best Friends (2004, ITV). This was a six-part miniseries, but was originally broadcast as one feature with a slightly different ending. It starred Chloe Smyth as Gemma and Poppy Rogers as Alice. Original broadcast date: 3 December 2004. This was repeated on the CITV Channel on 6 March 2010.
Girls in Love (ITV). Starring Olivia Hallinan as Ellie, Zaraah Abrahams as Magda and Amy Kwolek as Nadine. There have been two series of Girls in Love broadcast. Original broadcast dates: 1 April 2003 – 18 April 2005.
Dustbin Baby (BBC). Featuring an A-list cast including Juliet Stevenson as Marion, David Haig as a new character, Elliot, and Dakota Blue Richards as April. Original broadcast date: 21 December 2008.
Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012). This is a series in which Tracy (Dani Harmer) returns to the "Dumping Ground" (Stowey House, since moved to Elm Tree House) to earn money for her new book because she used Cam's credit card without permission to publish it; she was arrested, but Cam decided not to press charges as long as the money was paid back in full. She realises that Elm Tree House has changed and the new children act just like she did herself in her days. At times, she tries to help the children, concluding in the new social workers almost firing her. But sometimes she only gets the child's part of the story, then being told the whole thing and being totally confused and outraged.
The Tracy Beaker Survival Files (2011–2012). A spin-off series where Tracy teaches lessons about various subjects using her stories from the past and clips from The Story of Tracy Beaker and Tracy Beaker Returns. Original broadcast date: 17 December 2011 to 6 January 2012.
The Dumping Ground (2013–). The continued life at the Dumping Ground after Tracy Beaker moves on to a new care home and focuses more on just one child in the care home. Not a book by Jacqueline Wilson but inspired by the Tracy Beaker novels.
The Dumping Ground Survival Files (2014–2020). A spin-off and continuation of the Tracy Beaker Survival Files, where the Dumping Ground kids teach lessons about various subjects using stories that have happened to them and their friends in the past, using clips from Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground.
Hetty Feather (2015–2020). Stars Isabel Clifton as Hetty Feather, living her life in the Foundling Hospital and, later at the end of the third series, starting her life as a maid in service.
The Dumping Ground: I'm... (2016–2021). A spin-off series similar to the Survival Files, but instead where the characters make videos about themselves, who they are, what they like and stuff that's happened to them in their life.
Katy was made into a three-part TV series, Katy, broadcast on CBBC from 13 March 2018 to 16 March 2018. Chloe Lea, who played Katy went on to play Viv in The Dumping Ground, the continuation of Tracy Beaker Returns.
Four Children and It was adapted into a feature film named Four Kids and It.
My Mum Tracy Beaker was adapted into a three-part television series for CBBC, My Mum Tracy Beaker, from 12 February 2021 to 14 February 2021. It was originally three parts, but it was shown the following week on BBC One as a feature film.
We Are The Beaker Girls (2021–2023) was adapted into a television series, also for CBBC, The Beaker Girls, in December 2021, which shows Tracy and her life after she gets over her break-up with Sean Godfrey.
Little Darlings was adapted into a television series, for Sky Kids, in February 2022. This followed the two lives of Destiny and Sunset, both children of Danny Kilman, a has-been rockstar.
The Primrose Railway Children (2021) was adapted into a television series for CBBC and was released as a feature film on December 1st before being reaired as a 3 part miniseries. It is a modern reimagining of the railway children and follows the Robinson family moving near Primrose train station and the adventures that follow.
