Kid’s TV legend reveals she nearly landed role as Emmerdale’s Debbie Dingle but lost out to Charley Webb
A KID’S TV legend has revealed she nearly landed a role as one of Emmerdale’s most iconic characters.
Charley Webb is best known for the character of Debbie Dingle on the long-running ITV soap.
She first appeared in Emmerdale in 2002 as she made her debut on the Dales before leaving the soap in 2021.
However, the character could have been very different, as another actress revealed she nearly landed the role.
Dani Harmer, 36, is known for her iconic role as Tracy Beaker, in the hit CBBC series, The Story of Tracy Beaker.
She also appeared in the 10th instalment of Strictly Come Dancing back in 2012
This was based off the main character from Jacqueline Wilson‘s 1991 book of the same name.
The actress took to her TikTok account as she revealed some of the parts she never landed of shows she auditioned for.
One of the programmes was Emmerdale, and she revealed that met with ITV bosses in an audition.
She revealed: “Another random part that I auditioned for, Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale. Weird.
“I got quite far for that one too, but didn’t get it, probably because I wasn’t Northern.
“Yeah, I don’t think I was ever right for that, but what could have been a but, yeah, definitely weren’t right for that one.”
Danni admitted that before Tracy Beaker she got to the last round of auditions for another hit kids show, My Parents Are Aliens.
The actress opened up on her devastation when she didn’t land the part, although she was delighted to get Tracy Beaker just a short time later.
“Back in the day. I auditioned for a little show called My Parents Are Aliens.
“I actually got down to the final two for that, and I was devastated when I didn’t get it, like, oh man. I was so sad.
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The BBC hit series followed orphan Tracy and her pals in the ‘Dumping Ground’ children’s home.
- After leaving the show Dani Harmer – who played protagonist Tracy – had a brief singing career after signing a £3m record deal with Universal Music Group. Later, she became a mum to daughter Avarie-Belle Betsy Rachel Brough with her partner Simon Brough before she gave birth to her second child, son Rowan Leon James.
- Chelsie Padley, who played Tracy’s pal Louise Goven, gave up acting after leaving the show and is now a qualified fitness instructor teaching HITT and Zumba, with her own company Fit Peach. Her mantra is “strong is the new skinny” and she regularly shares content flashing her ripped body with her Instagram followers.
- Eagle-eyed fans previously spotted Alicia Hooper, who played troublemaker Amber, auditioning for The Voice UK.
- Montanna Thompson, who played troublesome Justine Littlewood, looked like she hadn’t aged a day as she returned to TikTok. She has starred in a host of other shows including The Last Detective, Sugar Rush, Doctors, Casualty, Close Relations and The Trials Of Jimmy Rose.
- In 2019, eagle-eyed soap fans noticed how Connor Byrne, who played care worker Mike Milligan, played a detective called Geoff in Emmerdale.
- Actor Craig Roberts, who played bandana-wearing Rio Wellard, has since landed a series of high-profile jobs in Hollywood.
“And I did a really good audition and everything. And, yeah, I was so gutted. But a year later, I got Tracy Beaker, so I feel like everything happens for a reason.”
The former CBBC child actor also revealed that she auditioned for a global show for the Disney Channel.
“This one’s gonna really make you giggle at one point, they did do a UK casting call for Hannah Montana.”
The hit show followed Miley Cyrus playing a fictionalised version of herself who was a normal kid by day and was disguised as a world famous singer by night.
I got quite far for [Emmerdale] too, but didn’t get it, probably because I wasn’t Northern.
Dani Harmer
Emily Osment played miley’s best friend Lilly in the series, but before she was cast producers were looking in the UK for talent.
Dani explained: “I did, in fact, have an audition for her friend. So don’t panic, I wasn’t after Miley Cyrus‘s job.
“Yeah, and that was a strange audition. I just remember it lasting for all of like three seconds, probably because they knew they were just gonna cast it in America, so I felt like they were just wasting our time.”
Reflecting on the past, she added: “But yeah, what could have been, hey, if I’d landed any of those roles other than Tracy Beaker, [I] could have been in Emmerdale. [I] could have worked with Miley Cyrus.
“Or it could have been in My Parents Are Aliens, and not Tracy Beaker.
“By like oh my gosh I could have not been Tracy Beaker at all. Everything happens for a reason.”