Chris Slater, who appeared in the TV series Tracy Beaker Returns and its spin-off, The Dumping Ground, is set to marry a fan of his named Sam Wilson, who described her fiancé as her “childhood crush” in a post announcing their engagement. In a TikTok post, Sam said the couple were due to get married in 2026, and shared images of Chris in his role as Frank Matthews in the TV series, and how he looks today.
She captioned the post: “He isn’t my childhood crush anymore… he’s my fiance.”
A Love Story For The Ages
Tracy Beaker Returns ran on CBBC from 2010 to 2012 and was a follow up to the original series The Story of Tracy Beaker, which was based on Jacqueline Wilson’s book of the same name. The book and the first series followed the lives of the children living in a fictional children’s care home, that was nicknamed the ‘dumping ground.’
From Care Home To Wedding Bells
In Tracy Beaker Returns, a now grown up Tracy went back to the care home where she used to live looking for a job, and it is there she met Chris’s character Frank, a teenager with cerebral palsy who lived at the home. Chris has described Frank as “a loveable, funny rogue with a cheeky charm about him.” The character also popped up in the first two series of the next Tracy Beaker spin off, The Dumping Ground, in which he became a waiter.
The Proposal and The Plans
Following Chris and Sam’s announcement, fans sent their best wishes to the newly engaged couple. One wrote: “You both look so happy together! Beautiful couple! Congratulations.”
Another commented: “You found a genuine man, congratulations to you both.” A third added, “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.”
From School Play to TV Star
Chris originally landed the role in Tracy Beaker Returns after being spotted on stage by the casting director. “I was talent-spotted while doing a school play in a local theatre. They asked me to audition after contacting my school to find out who I was and I got the part after two auditions,” he said in a BBC interview about the show.
A Twist of Fate
He also explained that he hadn’t planned to be an actor before the series. “I wanted to do some form of coaching within a physical education setting. Acting was just a hobby and the play where I was spotted was a last minute decision to take part in.”
A Happily Ever After
Chris and Sam’s story is a reminder that love can bloom in the most unexpected places. The couple’s engagement is a testament to their shared history and their deep affection for one another. It’s a story that will undoubtedly warm the hearts of Tracy Beaker fans around the world, a love story that began on the screen, and will continue in real life, forever.
A Match Made In Television
The couple's engagement is a testament to the enduring power of TV shows like Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground, which have captured the hearts and imaginations of viewers for years. The show has created a lasting impact on the lives of its viewers, including Sam, who found love with her childhood crush, Chris Slater. The couple's engagement is a reminder that even in the most unexpected of circumstances, love can find a way.
