Tracy Beaker star engaged to marry fan who says he was her ‘childhood crush’
A TRACY Beaker actor is engaged to a show superfan who had branded him her childhood crush.
Chris Slater played the role of Frank Matthews in Tracy Beaker Returns and it’s spin-off show The Dumping Ground between 2010 and 2018.
He became one of the CBBC show’s longest serving stars thanks to his almost decade-long stint on the programme.
Now, six years on, the actor has found himself loved-up with a childhood fan of the kids programme.
Chris’s fiance Sam confirmed the pair were engaged to tie the knot in a series of sweet TikTok videos.
She shared a tongue-in-cheek clip featuring photo’s of Chris in character as Frank alongside videos of the couple in their day-to-day lives as she poked fun at fans who thought she was dating the character of Frank as opposed to the actor.
Revealing that she had her eye on the CBBC star for some time, she wrote alongside one video: “He isnt my childhood crush anymore… hes my fiancé.”
However, for those hoping to see the photo’s from Sam and Chris’ big day, they are in for a long wait as the bride-to-be revealed in another video that they are not tying the knot for another two years.
The loved-up pair are expecting to marry in 2026 but have already made a start on some wedding preparations.
In another TikTok video, Sam revealed they had chosen the date of the ceremony and had even booked a venue to start looking forward to.
She further added that the wedding would have a “colour scheme” and that the flowers and photographer the couple planned to use on the big day were all “booked”.
Speaking about deciding how far in advance to plan, Sam commented on her video: “Honestly it’s never too soon to start planning but also know you have time for the little things I can’t wait to send our invites but it’s just too soon.”
The happy couple were met with a slew of congratulatory messages from fans as one penned: “You both look so happy together! beautiful couple! congratulations.”
Another added: “You found a genuine man, congratulations to you both.”
Whilst someone else said: “I couldn’t tell you why but it makes me all warm and fuzzy knowing that the dumping ground cast all grew up and lived happily ever after.”
Since the show, Chris has continued to act and was part of the cast of the play Animal earlier this year.
What the rest of the Tracy Beaker cast have been up to
Dani Harmer, the lead actress of the former BBC show, joined Strictly in 2012 and then recently graced the theatre stage.
The 34-year-old most recently made a comeback as Tracy for the new spin-off show My Mum Tracy Beaker.
Meanwhile, Tracy Beaker alum Chelsie Padley, who played Louise Goven on The Story Of Tracy Beaker when it first aired back in 2002, announced that she had given birth to her first child last year.
In August 2023, she took to Instagram and shared the happy news of her new arrival.
She posted a snap of the newborn and gushed in the caption: “GOLDIE RAYNER GEORGE. Hi world, I couldn’t wait to meet my Mummy and Daddy any longer, so on Tuesday, when I was 36+1 | gave them a little surprise… 15/08/23. 6lbs 12oz.
“Pure perfection, we are beyond besotted.”
Chelsie also revealed at the time that the tot she shared with fiancé Iain George was born with jaundice.