The Dumping Ground is a British children's television drama series that focuses on the lives and experiences of young people who live in a care home with their care workers in care, broadcast on CBBC since 4 January 2013. The series is a continuation of Tracy Beaker Returns and the first series, consisting of thirteen, thirty-minute episodes, was commissioned in early 2012. A second series, also with thirteen, thirty-minute episodes, was announced in 2013. The third and fourth series, announced in 2014 and 2015 respectively, both had an increase in episodes: twenty, thirty-minute episodes. In 2016, it was confirmed that two further series, with 24 episodes in each series, would be made. The Dumping Ground broadcast its 100th episode on 16 March 2018, which was the tenth episode of series six. An eighth series is currently airing from January to December 2020.
Plot
The series revolves around the life of children in the Ashdene Ridge care home; typically each episode follows one or more characters' life and includes subplots featuring other characters. The Dumping Ground deals with issues related to the care system as well as social issues such as friendships, family, relationships, mental health, adolescence and LGBT parenting.
Episodes
Characters
Spin-offs
Since its inception, The Dumping Ground has had four spin-offs. The Dumping Ground Survival Files aired for two series from 6 January to 12 December 2014. Webisode series Liam's Story aired from 17 January to 14 March 2014 and aired in a full episode on television on 23 March 2014. The series followed the character of Liam O'Donovan, played by Richard Wisker, after his life in care. In November 2015, a five-part miniseries aired, titled The Dumping Ground Dish Up, that featured five former cast members - Joe Maw, Jessie Williams, Chris Slater, Jessica Revell and Saffron Coomber - in character and showing how to make different dishes. , another webisode series where young people and staff describe living and working in care, aired for two series from 25 January 2016 to 9 February 2017. On 6 April 2018, a five-part mini webisode series was released called Sasha's Contact Meeting, which followed Sasha with her social worker planning her pathway plan for when she leaves care.
Production and casting
announced that The Dumping Ground had been commissioned in March 2012. Like in Tracy Beaker Returns, the former La Sagesse School was used for The Dumping Ground set and the first series was filmed in summer 2012. Additional scenes are shot across the North East of England. From series 2, the exterior set is filmed at Rowlands Gill, Tyne and Wear which is surrounded by private property. A former secondary school in High Spen, Tyne and Wear was used for some extra filming but this building is no longer used and is currently up for sale to developers. The former Loansdean fire station in Morpeth, Northumberland has been used for The Dumping Ground interior set and the rear garden since the second series when La Sagesse School was sold to property developers, with additional filming across the North East. To portray life accurately in a children's care home, the show works with children's advocate, Bev Costello, who acts as an adviser. All the main cast, apart from Saffron Coomber, from the last episode of the third series of Tracy Beaker Returns reprised their roles and Leanne Dunstan, Reece Buttery and Sarah Rayson were cast as Faith Davis, Mo Michaels and Floss Guppy respectively. Stacy Liu joined as new care workerMay-Li Wang in series 2 and Kasey McKellar joined as Bailey Wharton in series two.
Ratings
Ratings from BARB. From series 6b onwards, viewing figures include four-screen data and pre-transmission viewing.
