Tyler Lewis is the longest standing resident of the Dumping Ground. The character was introduced on screen at the beginning of Tracy Beaker Returns Series 3. He was previously living at Burneywood care home but due to a fire, he and some of the other residents are moved to Elm Tree House. From the outset Tyler is seen to be a prankster and joker, he loves practical jokes, pranks and magic tricks and acts the clown. He learns many of his pranks from older DG residents Liam and Frank and also from fellow Burneywood resident Rick whose parents were professional con artists.
Despite his cheeky prankster exterior, underneath he is a sad and scared little boy. When Carmen and Elektra burn his belongings in TBR Series 3 Episode 2 Firestarter Tyler is devastated that his birthday card from his mum is damaged. He explains it is the only birthday card he has received from his mum since he has been in care. Later in TBR Series 3 Episode 8 Rewards it is revealed that Tyler wets the bed due to bad dreams about a flood. The dreams are due to his mum telling him she wished a big wave would come and wash all the bad stuff away and Tyler fearing this wave would wash him away too. It is revealed in Series 1 Episode 11 Seriously Funny that his mother has Bi Polar Disorder and Tyler has a deep fear that he will become mentally ill too. In Series 2 Episode 6 Holding On Tyler’s mum visits him, everything goes well until her behaviour starts to become erratic as she is not taking her pills.
Throughout Series 1 to 3 of The Dumping Ground Tyler continues to be a prankster and joker, with his focus slowly changing to magic tricks in Series 3. He puts on a show in episode 16 with the help of Chantelle, the daughter of a magic shop owner. By series 4 Tyler is starting to grow up, he turns 13 later in the series, and is becoming a more serious character. He is shown to be more sensitive and mature and empathetic towards other characters. He supports Jody when she suffers from low self-esteem in series 4 episode 3 Stepping Up showing a maturity he just didn’t have at the beginning of Series 3 when Jody asked him to help her create a documentary about the reality of life in the DG, as Tyler was only interested in creating a gag reel to send to a TV show. He also starts to take on a leadership role within the DG, winning the DG election to become the Children in Care Council Forum representative. We see Tyler grow up as he faces the possibility of moving back with his mum only to realise he is not ready to leave the DG and he has a lot of catching up to do with his mum first. He also put his life on the line to rescue Jody from a burning flat.
By Series 5 his leadership role is cemented, especially after the departure of Kazima, when he takes on the role of peacekeeper. He is shown to motivate and encourage younger residents and have the maturity to support Alex, despite that fact he stole from the DG in the past. In the series finale he is instrumental in saving the DG from being bought by a development firm. He goes with Mike to the council and later directly stands up to Mr Umbleby and tricks him into giving valuable information that helps prevent the sale of the DG. He refuses to give up on the DG, fuelled on by the fact he doesn’t want to be split up from Jody. However during the Dumping Ground Island special, we see Tyler’s vulnerable side once more. Overwhelmed by the stresses and pressures of school, his council forum rep role and podcast along with his fears about his mental health and his growing feelings for Jody, Tyler escapes to his imaginary desert island. On his desert island Tyler must learn to face his fears and help his friends face theirs, so they can return to the Dumping Ground. Tyler realises how strong his feelings are for Jody and that his deepest fear is losing her. On returning to reality, Tyler tries to make amends with Jody who he was ignoring previously due being so overwhelmed with stress and anxieties.
Throughout Series 6 we see Tyler battling with his feelings for Jody. He struggles to admit how he feels, despite Jody hinting at her own feelings for him, and as a result watches on dejectedly as Jody becomes closer to her boxing partner Brandon. He also learns that his mother has a new boyfriend, and instinctively assumes that he is up to no good and tries to protect his mum. But it turns out that the boyfriend is genuine and Tyler has pushed them apart for no good reason. In episode 22 Tyler finally reveals his feelings to Jody after she locks them in the attic so he cant escape from her and his feelings. Both Tyler and Jody are relieved to admit the truth but realise they cannot openly be in a romantic relationship as this would be against the rules and one of them would have to leave the Dumping Ground.
Tyler’s maturity and sensitivity grow in Series 7 as we see him support younger residents Taz and Sid. He also grows in confidence learning to take risks rather than be indecisive. In Run the Risk Tyler makes the decision to apply for a radio production college course and also to give Jody a necklace to show how much she means to him. His mature and responsible nature is shown in Series 7 episode 7 when he offers to babysit May-Li’s baby son Henry. He is happy to help out and care for the baby, whilst Jody struggles with her self-confidence feeling that she would never be a good mum due to her own difficult upbringing. Tyler helps Jody to see that it is because of her difficult childhood and lack of a loving mother figure, that she would be a great mum as she would not allow her children to experience what she did.
Tyler has developed and evolved so much as a character over the course of his time at The Dumping Ground. We have seen him grow from a young prankster to a mature, responsible and sensitive young man.
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