Jacqueline Wilson also made the 1999 Whitbread Awards shortlist. "The Story of Tracy Beaker" won the 2002 Blue Peter People's Choice Award. "Girls in Tears" was the Children's Book of the Year at the 2003 British Book Awards. Two of her books were "Highly Commended" runners-up for the annual Carnegie Medal: "The Story of Tracy Beaker" (1991) and "Double Act" (1995). In June 2002, Wilson was appointed an OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she served as the fourth Children's Laureate. In that role Wilson urged parents and child-care providers to continue reading aloud to children
The Story of Tracy Beaker (series 1) potential foster parent, Cam Lawson and Luke Youngblood plays Tracy's friend, Ben Batambuze, whom she befriends in the series premiere. Stephen Crossley guest stars as Justine's father, Steve. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Cas Lester was the executive producer and Jane Dauncey was the producer for this series. Filming took place in 2001. Susan Tully and David Skynner directed an equal thirteen episodes each. Elly Brewer wrote nine episodes, Mary Morris wrote five episodes and Laura Summers wrote four episodes. Andy Walker and Arnold Evans wrote two episodes each and Carol Russell, Roger Griffiths, Othniel Smith and Graham Alborough all wrote one episode each.