Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who is nearing her 80th birthday, continues to captivate readers with her poignant novels. Her latest offering, Picture Imperfect, is a sequel to the 1999 hit The Illustrated Mum.
The story follows Dolphin, now aged 33, whose life has eerily mirrored parts of her mother’s. Marigold, Dolphin’s mother, continues to grapple with her bipolar disorder, leaving Dolphin to manage the fallout. But can she discover what truly brings her joy?
To mark the book’s release, an event was held at HOME Theatre, Manchester, where Jacqueline and Dani Harmer (yes, Tracy Beaker herself!) discussed the new novel.
Naturally, the conversation veered towards Wilson’s other works, including the one that Harmer brought to life through her stellar acting.
Dani expressed her gratitude to Jacqueline for the chance to star in the 2002 drama The Story of Tracy Beaker, adapted from the eponymous book first published in February 1991.
Jacqueline reciprocated the sentiment, thanking Dani for her flawless portrayal of Tracy, which contributed significantly to the show’s resounding success.
It was at this point that Jacqueline confessed that the TV show had been a game-changer in her life.
While the exact figures of Jacqueline’s earnings from her novels remain undisclosed, it’s known that she has penned over 100 books, several of which have been adapted into TV shows, and she holds both an OBE and a damehood.
However, she claims someone at the BBC initially dismissed the idea of Tracy Beaker becoming a hit, as they didn’t view her as an “aspirational” character. They wrongly assumed that because Tracy was raised in a care home and had a sassy attitude, audiences wouldn’t connect with her.
However, this assumption was entirely off the mark, as millennials fell in love with the character.
Jacqueline also revealed that she enjoys writing about characters who have struggled with their identity, and Tracy certainly fits that mould. When asked if she had plans to reintroduce Tracy Beaker as an adult, she mentioned the story My mum Tracy Beaker, which is told from the perspective of Tracy’s daughter, Jess.
However, Jacqueline expressed uncertainty about penning a book from Tracy’s adult perspective. She admitted to having a few ideas but was hesitant to give that particular narrative any finality.
She did reveal that she is currently working on a book featuring “LGBTQ+ representation,” but couldn’t divulge more details as her publisher would not be thrilled. Nonetheless, it’s thrilling to know that Jacqueline has another book in progress for her eager fans to enjoy.