Here’s what your childhood heroes are doing now

Tracy Beaker released a single and the Raven does Irn Bru adverts


There comes a point in our lives where we have to admit to ourselves that we’re too old for children’s TV, eventually having to switch Tracy Beaker and Basil Brush for TOWIE and Breaking Bad.

But the clock does not stop for our childhood heroes. They grow up just like us, and some even move onto better things.

Below are some of the childhood stars we all came to love, and how they have settled into life after kids TV.

Dani Harmer (Played Tracy in Tracy Beaker)

Dani played the famous Tracy Beaker. Since dumping The Dumping Ground, she now has a child of her own born only last June.

She also starred in Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, in which she came 4th. Dani also had a crack in music, developing an album which was never released.

She did release a song, called “Free”, which was the soundtrack to her 2008 show Dani’s House. It reached 117th in the UK charts.

Montanna Thompson (Played Justine in Tracy Beaker)

Montanna played rival Justine Littlewood in Tracy Beaker. She has since appeared in horror film Kill or be Killed, and also The Bill.

James Mackenzie (Played Raven in… Raven)

James truly mastered the way of the warrior and has since been touring the UK performing in the musical Sunshine on Leith with LOTR actor Billy Boyd (who played Pippin in Lord of the Rings).

He has also done voiceover work in adverts for Irn Bru and Hall’s Haggis.

Melvin Odoom

Melvin Odoom was everywhere on CBBC. He was in the prison talent show The Slammer and Dick and Dom in the Bungalow.

Since then, he has had a successful career hosting The Xtra Factor, broadcasting backstage at The Brits, and is winning awards as a radio presenter.

Dick and Dom (Richard McCourt & Dominic Wood) 

We all shed a few tears when Dick and Dom in the Bungalow finished in 2006. However it wasn’t the end of the duo – their career moved onto presenting the Sunday morning show on Radio 1 and presenting Sky 1’s Are You Smarter Than A 10-Year Old?

Their new venture, Absolute Geniuses with Dick and Dom, is a children’s education show – they won a children’s entertainer BAFTA in 2014 for its success.

Barney Harwood

Barney presented Smile, Bamzooki, and prank patrol. He’s still at CBBC, presenting shows such as Blue Peter and All Over The Place.

He’s also appeared on stage a fair bit, starring in Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast.

Melissa Joan Hart (Played Sabrina in Sabrina the Teenage Witch) 

Melissa starred for six years in the series Melissa and Joey before it was cancelled August 2015.

Now 40, Melissa is married with three children. She also publicly announced her political affiliations in 2012 via Twitter, temporarily becoming a trending topic.

Dave Benson Phillips (Get Your Own Back)

We all wanted a chance to take our parents or teacher on Get Your Own Back and dunk them in the gunge tank. Since allowing us the pleasure, Dave has been appearing in pantomines and stand up.

He now owns Chester Benson’s Productions, a production company that provides entertainment supplies, removals, and transportation. He is also hosting a live version of Get Your Own Back at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Sam and Mark

The Pop Idol duo had a pretty impressive career on children’s television presenting Top of the Pops Reloaded and TMI. The pair have remained children’s presenters, going onto present Junior Bake Off.

Sam Nixon got to the final of Celebrity Masterchef in 2015. They both now have children, and present a radio show on Sheffield Free Radio.

Neil Buchanan (Hosted Art Attack)

The host of Art Attack has turned his creative disposition towards music. He’s now the lead guitarist and provides backing vocals for his heavy metal band Marseille.

Chuckle Brothers

Oh dear, oh dear. The legendary Chuckle Brothers graced our screens for years, but since Chucklevision’s ending in 2009 the duo have been appearing in pantomimes and making appearences on celeb TV shows (such as Celebrity Juice and Come Dine With Me).

Most bizarrely, they released a charity single with Tinchy Stryder and performed at Bestival. Don’t be surprised if you meet them down your local Pryzm.

Devon Anderson (Played Taj in Kerching)

Owner of Rudeboi Records, Devon has appeared in Eastenders and had a stint presenting on BBC. He’s now a resident DJ at Imperial Bar and Club in St Helens.

Hannah Tointon (Played Tamsin in Kerching) 

Many will remember Tamsin from being Taj’s love interest in the first series of Kerching. She was in a relationship with Ricardo, who we can all say was a bit of a knob.

Since Kerching, she’s appeared in The Inbetweeners as Tara.

Alex Kew (Played Josh in My Parents Are Aliens) 

Alex was out of this world playing Josh in My Parents Are Aliens. He’s now 29, and was in a band called “The Wutar” until their split in 2009.

He’s now focusing on his solo career.

Frankie Muniz (Played Malcolm in Malcolm in the Middle) 

After Malcolm in the Middle ended in 2006, Frankie Muniz has had many different turns in his life. In 2007 he pursued a racing career – he finished fourth in the Toyota Celebrity Pro.

He also was a drummer in the band Kingsfoil in 2012, but left two years later. He recently appeared in Sharknado 3 in 2015, to mixed reviews.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Played Zack Morris in Saved by the Bell)

Never without a scheme or plan, Mark-Paul has had a very successful career since the show.

He has made over 30 different television appearences on shows like Law & Order, Franklin & Bash, CSI, NYPD Blue, and many others.

He’s also a trained pilot. Phwoar.

Mario Lopez (Played Slater in Saved by the Bell) 

Continuing on the success trend, Mario Lopez has had a brilliant presenting career hosting The X-Factor, Pet Star, and celebrity news show Extra.

He is now married with a daughter and son.