Characters such as Tracy Beaker might find themselves in difficult family situations, but that sense of reality is part of the appeal for Jacqueline Wilson’s millions of young readers as she gets set to publish her new novel, Wave Me Goodbye, writes Esther McCarthy.

Strictly Come Dancing stretched its lead in the ratings war with X Factor by more than two million last night – its biggest for six years.

Denise Van Outen has waltzed back to the top of the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard.