!Main characters

[[folder: Tracy]]
! Tracy Beaker
-->'''Played by:''' Dani Harmer

Forced into working at the Dumping Ground to earn the money she stole from Cam to publish her life-story.

* CurtainsMatchTheWindow: She has curly brown hair and brown eyes.
* DeadpanSnarker
* HappilyAdopted: When she was a child, she used to dream about this all the time, then Cam came along.
* TheNapoleon: Tracy isn't that tall but she has a huge mouth to compensate.
* ParentalNeglect: We see her real mother in Tracy's flashbacks leaving her on her own while she is sick to go out with her boyfriend, forgetting to pick her up from kindergarten and, of course, leaving her at the Dumping Ground.
* ParentalAbandonment: Her mother left her at the orphanage when Tracy was five.
* TeamMom: She ends up becoming this to the children
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Mike]]
! Michael "Mike" Milligan
-->'''Played by''': Connor Byrne
The Head Careworker at the Dumping Ground.

* InterGenerationalFriendship: With Gus
* MarriedToTheJob
* NiceGuy
* OldRetainer: To Tracy.
* TeamDad
* PapaWolf
* ParentalSubstitute: Was and is this to Tracy from time to time. Also can count with his close fatherly relationship with Gus.
* RealMenCook
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Gina]]
! Gina Conway
-->'''Played by:''' Kay Purcell

Pretty much Jenny with her and Mike's roles reversed. When she began to trust Tracy more (series 2 onward) she chilled out a bit, and became more like Duke (a friendly, humourous face who cooks).

* ApronMatron
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Liam]]
! Liam O' Donovan
-->'''Played by:''' Richard Wisker

* TheArtfulDodger: Liam is this trope. When Mike collects him from the police station and they run into Tracy they have this discussion:
-->'''Mike:''' See, Liam, if you want to get on in life, maybe we could have a little less artful dodger and a bit more [[HeelFaceTurn Tracy Beaker]].
-->'''Liam:''' I ''am'' like Tracy! [[ComicallyMissingThePoint We both got nicked!]]
-->'''Mike:''' ''(after Tracy's explanation for being in the station)'' You published your own book with Cam's money?! Tracy, how could you?
-->'''Tracy:''' ''[defensive]'' Cam's a writer! She'll understand! I'll pay her back when the book sells.
-->'''Mike:''' ''[facepalms]'' Oh, Tracy...
-->'''Liam:''' So Mike, [[DeadpanSnarker I think I'd better stick with the artful dodger thing for now. What d'you reckon]]?
* TheCastShowOff: In his one-off appearance in ''The Dumping Ground'', Richard Wisker shows off his guitar and singing ability.
* DeadpanSnarker: As show in the conversation with Mike quoted above.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Frank
* MosesInTheBulrushes: He was left at the steps of a hospital.
* PutOnABus: In the fourth episode of series 3 as he goes to live with his brother.
** TheBusCameBack: For the finale of series 2 of ''The Dumping Ground'' as well as an online miniseries tying into it. He reappeared again in the finale of series 6 for [[spoiler: Mike's wedding]].
* TeamDad: Despite the 'Bad Boy' image he creates, he cares for all the residents in the Dumping Ground, especially when things get tough.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Frank]]
! Frank Matthews
-->'''Played by:''' Chris Slater

Liam's best friend whose Grandad became too ill to look after him.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Liam. The two are shown to be best friends whether Liam is in Elm Tree House or not.
* TookALevelInBadass: Series 1: Liam's best friend with cerebral palsy. Series 2: Slightly broken after losing his grandad. Series 3: Loses his love and best friend, turning into an AntiHero determined to save his only chance at an emotional tie.
* RaisedByGrandparents: He was bought up by his Grandad. He was taken into care when his Grandad's health meant that he could no longer look after him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Gus]]
! Gus Carmichael
-->'''Played by:''' Noah Marullo

* InterGenerationalFriendship: With Mike.
* BrutalHonesty: Tends to be blunt and honest, even if it comes off as rude. Justified as he has Aspergers.
* HeroicBSOD: Has a sensory overload in the premiere of The Dumping Ground due to getting his head covered in henna, the loud music from Rick and Frank's feud, and everyone shouting and fighting. This causes him to reach his breaking point and pull the pin of a grenade. Luckily, the explosion was small and nobody got hurt. This also gets everyone to stop fighting and get along again.
* LiteralMinded: Due to having Aspergers, he has trouble understanding idioms and takes them literally.
* LimitedWardrobe: He is always wearing a black shirt and beige trousers and his wardrobe is literally filled with only this style of clothing, though this is justified due to his Aspergers syndrome.
* ObsessivelyOrganized: He has a schedule and his room is organized in a particular way, which is also distressing when this is messed up or ruined.
* ObsessedAreTheListmakers: He makes a list of his routine and all the things he needs to do and gets upset and stressed if he is unable to do them and cross it off his list.
* PutOnABus: In the first season of The Dumping Ground to live with a pair of lesbians.
* ScheduleFanatic: Due to his UsefulNotes/AspergersSyndrome, he finds it very distressing when his routine is broken.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Lily]]
! Lily Kettle
-->'''Played by:''' Jessie Williams

* BornLucky: Subverted in a strange sense. Even though loads of unlucky things such as her mum dying and being separated from her sisters. She gets fostered by Cam, with no prompting and was initially fostered after only being in care for a few months. Reconciles with her dad and is allowed to live with him.
* DropInCharacter: After she moves in with her dad.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: When her and her sisters are leaving to get fostered, Lily doesn't allow Matt and Christy to hold their hands. Foreshadowing to the fact, Lily tries to take over looking after Poppy and Rosie.
* PromotionToParent: Surrogate mum to her little sisters - had problems handing over control to a foster parent, but not to her dad. It eventually ruins her chance of being happily fostered with the Perrys.
* PutOnABus: To live down south with her dad and Shannay.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Is shown to be more likely to be nasty and unlikeable after falling off the roof.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Carmen]]
! Carmen Howle
-->'''Played by:''' Amy-Leigh Hickman

* BreakTheCutie: After her stuff gets nicked at Burnywood
* BrokenBird: Series 1: Happy girl in pink. Series 2: Slightly less happy...
* CannotKeepASecret: Carmen's big mouth is well known in the DG and something that is lampshaded by other characters.
* CharacterDevelopment: She goes from being a very girly CheerfulChild to being a more JerkWithAHeartOfGold girl by Series 3.
* CheerfulChild: Only in season one of ''Tracy Beaker Returns''
* {{Expy}}: Very much like Louise. Often split between two friends (Lily and Elektra/Tee) and also goes through some big CharacterDevelopment. Ironically, hers and Carmen's personalities switch as they get older.
** The pink is a dead giveaway.
* TheFashionista: Her passion? Fashion.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Her and Lily. Later, her and Tee.
* [[HonoraryUncle Honorary Aunt]]: To Lily's sisters, Poppy and Rosie.
* ItsAllAboutMe
* {{Jerkass}}
* MoodSwinger: From about TBR series 3, she can either be really nice and understanding or a total bitch.
* NeverMyFault
* ParentalNeglect: Her reason for being in care, her mum cares for her just put herself first too often.
* PinkMeansFeminine
* TookALevelInJerkass: Her time in Burnywood changed her from a CheerfulChild to a meaner girl.
* VanityIsFeminine: She is very vain and loves her outfits and makeup. Not surprisingly, she's very girly.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Johnny]]
! Johnny Taylor
-->'''Played by:''' Joe Maw

Tee's older brother with dominance and anger issues.

* AbusiveParents: Much more affected by their abusive almost-stepdad than Tee.
* BigBrotherInstinct: As much as he orders his sister around, if necessary, he'll do anything for her.
* ControlFreak: To his sister, Tee originally. He later backs off and lets her do what she wants.
* TheCynic
* DontSplitUsUp: Subverted. Usually, he and Tee both want to be fostered together, but he once wanted Tee to be fostered alone when he finds out the parents only wanted her and not him.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: This served as his motivation for causing havoc during a power cut in "Shadows", particularly as Tyler had gotten more attention for humiliating him earlier in the episode.
* HairTriggerTemper: He has known to have anger problems, although he learns to control it better as he grows older.
* {{Jerkass}}
* VillainousFriendship: Whenever he teams up with Elektra.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Tee]]
! Tee Taylor
-->'''Played by:''' Mia [=McKenna=]-Bruce

Johnny's sister

* BreakTheCutie: When she was responsible for ruining the DG's holiday and everyone started going against her.
* DontSplitUsUp: She hates being separated from Johnny.
* TheHeart: The most empathetic member of the DG. Goes gooey over animals and is supportive and friendly to everybody.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Harry]]
! Harry Jones
-->'''Played by:''' Philip Graham Scott

* TheCutie
* IconicItem: His stuffed animal Jeff the giraffe.
* TheQuietOne: He doesn't speak much - possibly rooted in psychological issues - or just not trusting the actor with many lines.
* TagalongKid: Throughout ''Tracy Beaker Returns'', he was the youngest member of the DG.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Toby]]
! Toby Coleman
-->'''Played by:''' John Bell
A comics nerd of Scottish descent whose parents died in a car crash.

* BornUnlucky: Where his nickname comes from.
* ImproperlyParanoid: He becomes convinced that Mike has ebola when he falls ill in "Anarchy in the DG", resulting in him calling an emergency team.
** He later becomes convinced his new social worker Seth is part of a gang after some stolen money the kids found.
* InSeriesNickname: Bad-Luck Boy.
* ItsAllMyFault: He blames himself for his parents' deaths as he had argued with them shortly before they died.
* NiceGuy
* PutOnABus: In-between seasons 2 and 3, so we never see his departure. He does get a throwaway line to his whereabouts (he got fostered).
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Sapphire]]
! Sapphire Fox
-->'''Played by:''' Saffron Coomber

Rocker's daughter who is unwanted by him.

* CoolBigSis: Towards Harry.
* DeadpanSnarker
* DropInCharacter: After she moves out of the Dumping Ground when she's 16. After her flat gets flooded, she returns back to the Dumping Ground whilst it gets fixed.
* MamaBear: She is very protective of Harry, to the point where she picked a fight with Elektra when she cut off one of Jeff’s legs.
* ParentalSubstitute: She falls somewhere between being like a Mum and being like a big sister to Harry.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Elektra]]
! Mandy "Elektra" Perkins
-->'''Played by:''' Jessica Revell

Former gang member.

* BerserkButton: Just don't touch her hair. Also, don't be homophobic.
* DeadpanSnarker
* FauxAffablyEvil: Whilst not evil, she is a bitch but can be very polite if she wants to convince someone.
* HiddenDepths: Elektra's parents reveal that she used to be a vegetarian and fought for 'meat is murder'
** In the background of her room, you can see a pride flag.
** WordOfGod states that she is a lesbian and part of her story in the web series ''After The DG'' is about her getting together with a girl. It was just never explored during the show due to Jessica's departure from the series plus CBBC having stricter guidelines at the time.
* {{Jerkass}}
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Deep down, she does care about the other kids and The Dumping Ground shows more of a softer side to her.
* [[{{ManipulativeBastard}} Manipulative Bitch]]: Elektra is the biggest one in the series.
* {{Schemer}}
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Tyler]]
! Tyler Lewis
-->'''Played by:''' Miles Butler-Hughton

Prankster from Burnywood.

* DisappearedDad: Tyler's dad left his mum before he was even born.
* EmbarrassingDampSheets: When he first arrived, Tyler kept wetting the bed as a result of a dream he would have involving an incoming flood. Harry helped him overcome this in "Reward".
* ThePrankster: His defining trait.
* VillainBall: He's originally introduced as the boy who stole Carmen's stuff and hit her when she went to Burnywood. However, in the rest of his appearances, he doesn't appear the type to maliciously steal someone's stuff.
* ZanyScheme: Usually does this in the side plots.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Rick]]
! Rick Barber
-->'''Played by:''' Daniel Pearson

From Burnywood.

* BigBrotherInstinct: Acts a big brother to Tyler and always looks out for him. He was also seen to be protective of Kitty.
* ComicallyMissingThePoint: in the episode "The Invitation" it is revealed that Rick is against the Queen because his parents are in prison in 'Her Majesty's Pleasure' and doesn't realise that it's only in name.
* NiceGuy: One of the more decent members of the DG
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Is this for Liam, replacing him as a regular and moving into his room. Just like Liam, Rick knows all about scams and con artists, plays guitar and has a passion for music (something Liam later goes on to focus on). His role in episodes such as "Justine Littlewood Returns" seem to have originally been written for Liam, as Rick is the only kid to take Tracy's side, despite barely knowing her at this point, and he deduces that Justine's fiance is a fraudster in a similar scenario to Liam's in "Out of Control".
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Jody]]
! Jody Jackson
--> '''Played by:''' Kia Pegg
* DarkAndTroubledPast: She was neglected and abused by her family, especially her mother and Kingsley.
* DeadpanSnarker
** LittleMissSnarker
* HairTriggerTemper: Her temper can cause her to get very angry and she snaps when provoked.
* HatesBaths: Only in her introductory episode due to past abuse.
* MouthyKid
* ParentalAbandonment: She is abandoned by her mother and her brothers in her first appearance.
* SoreLoser: She gets too mad when a game doesn't go in her favour.
* {{Tomboy}}: Likes listening to rock music and watching football.
* TrademarkFavouriteFood: Chocolate biscuits
* VitriolicBestBuds: With Tyler.
[[/folder]]


! Notable other characters and pets
[[folder: Introduced ''Tracy Beaker Returns'' Season 1]]
! Cam Lawson
-->'''Played by:''' Lisa Coleman
* GoodParents: To Tracy.


! Rosie and Poppy Kettle
-->'''Played by:''' Katie Anderson (Poppy), Claudia Colling (Rosie S1) and Millie Redfearn (Rosie S2&3)
Lily's younger sisters.

* HappilyAdopted: Poppy and Rosie see the Perrys as their parents.
* SatelliteCharacter: Their backstory revolves around Lily, and every drama about them results in Lily's development.
* ThoseTwoGirls: They are always seen together.

! Matt and Christie Perry
-->'''Played by:''' Chris Robson and Vicki Perry
Poppy and Rosie's foster parents

* JerkassHasAPoint: Not trusting Tracy to take Poppy and Rosie out takes a new meaning when you remember what Tracy did in Season 1 and she's not wrong in feeling that way.
* MyBelovedSmother: How Lily feels Christie is toward Poppy and Rosie.
* ParentalSubstitute: To Poppy and Rosie.
* VillainBall: Christie in her appearance in TBR Season 3, she didn't want Poppy and Rosie to see Steve. Also, she is more argumentative.

! Rob
-->'''Played by:''' Neil Armstrong
Lily's and later Jody's social worker

* AntiVillain: Tracy and Lily don't seem to like Rob for splitting her and her sisters up, but he is just doing his job.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Rob may not be the nicest, but he's right about the stunt that Tracy pulled after she had been told it was too soon.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Introduced ''Tracy Beaker Returns'' Season 2]]

! Ade and Dayo
-->'''Played by:''' Timi Lamikanra (Ade) and Mohammed Mansaray (Dayo)

* WarRefugees: In emergency care after fleeing a war.

! Steve Kettle
-->'''Played by:''' Ben Cartwright
Lily, Poppy and Rosie's father

* TheAlcoholic: Formerly.
* BumblingDad: Lily knows more about how to deal with house and home than he does.
* DrowningMySorrows: How he dealt with his wife's death, leading to his daughters ending up in care.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Introduced ''Tracy Beaker Returns'' Season 3]]

! Lizanne
-->'''Played by:''' Lauren Mote

From Burnywood. Started the fire.

* BadBadActing: Her supposed "Panic attack".
* GoldDigger: Is attracted to the boys who have money.
* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]: Second only to Elektra.
** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Not as much as other characters, but she does put Johnny's money back before she leaves.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: She was responsible for the fire at Burnywood after accidentally leaving her hair straighteners on overnight.

! Kitty
-->'''Played by:''' Eleni Foskett

From Burnywood.

* AmbiguousDisorder: ''Something'' is wrong with her, none of the characters are really sure what is. The show never gives an explanation for this either.
* DoesNotLikeBeingTouched: She pushes Tracy down the stairs when she tries to lead her outside.
* PutOnABus: To a care home where they can handle her needs properly in between episodes 2 and 3 of the third season of ''Tracy Beaker Returns''.
* WeHardlyKnewYe: Leaves after the first two episodes of Series 3 without the audience getting to know her more.

! Denis Stockle
-->'''Played by:''' James Gahadas

The head careworker from Burnywood. Arrives and briefly takes over Elm Tree House in the Series 3 opener.

* {{Jerkass}}

! Jack O'Donovan
-->'''Played by:''' Calum Callaghan (2012) and Chris Finch (2014)

* BigBrotherInstinct
* LongLostRelative: He's Liam's brother who works as a police officer. He meets Liam while he is working undercover in a stall selling pirate [=DVDs=] (to bring down a film piracy ring).

! Melissa Perkins
-->'''Played by:''' Angela Terence

* ExtremeDoormat: To her mother.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Pets]]

!! Mr. Hamster

Lily's hamster. Handed over to Toby. Back to Tee after Toby left.

* TeamPet

!! Shadow (ACTRESS: Connie the dog)

Frank's MoralityPet and a new friend. Later is given to Lily when she can't stay in The Dumping Ground

* BerserkButton: Frank has just lost all his friends and relations. So he makes sure Shadow doesn't die.

[[/folder]]