31. Sid Rooney - Series 4
Tracy Beaker had a tendency to write off characters with no explanation (see: like, half of the Series 1 cast, some of the Series 2 cast, M*chael... although I'm glad the latter didn't get an explanation, because I can at least imagine the kids killed him in his sleep), but luckily they always explained why care workers left. Mike and Jenny got new jobs, and while we only found that out from Tracy after Jenny's left in the Series 3 premiere, it was certainly more of a resolve to her character's end on the show than Shelley's departure (although thankfully she was only gone temporarily).
After changing house previously with no explanation (and still pretending it's the same building
like, why are there two Stowey House's and two Elm Tree Houses, and why did they pretend the second Elm Tree House was the same house as the second Stowey House in TBR with the time capsule?!?! WHY?), Series 4 opened with the kids actually moving house (hurray) and with a brand new careworker.... Sid. Shelley's gone. Why? Who knows. But we care, because she was interesting (I almost turned this into a Shelley writeup, but anywho, onto Sid). So the fact she didn't get a goodbye left things a sour, but then we got this random bloke just... there.
He really pales when compared to the other careworkers. Mike and Jenny were great, lovable, and we could relate to their resentment towards Elaine the Pain, Nathan was new and hip and had great dynamics with Bouncer, Lol, and Dolly (ESPECIALLY Dolly), and Shelley was menacing on the outside yet lovable on the inside.
And to be fair, the careworkers bounced off each other. Mike and Jenny had a great friendship and great interactions (and as did Duke, even if he's not a careworker) for example, whereas Sid was alone, with only Duke and Elaine as supports, and they just seemed more like work colleagues. The only level of friendship I saw between the three care home adults in Series 4 is when Sid seemed upset that Duke was leaving... and even then why should we care? They had a friendship yes, certainly apparent in the Series 4 finale, but it just didn't feel organic, and Sid didn't have any notable interactions with the kids.
What's ironic is, in Series 5, Duke's departure is he explained, while Mike just suddenly appears and Sid's nowhere to be found (also, they're in a different house again, but whatever, it's not unreasonable to think they moved house again). That just makes Sid truly forgettable, and I can never remember Series 4 episodes being aired on re-runs on CBBC, so that doesn't help.
Yeah, Sid was just boring and unforgettable.