Harry Potter

New J.K. Rowling book a dark comedy for adults titled The Casual Vacancy

Novel from Edinburgh-based Harry Potter author out 27th Sept 2012

17 Apr 2012

Publisher Little, Brown have announced that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's novel for adults will be a dark comedy called The Casual Vacancy. The Edinburgh-based author is best known for her series of seven Harry Potter novels, which sold 450 million…

50ft model of Hogwarts unveiled in London

The scale model of Harry Potter's school is part of London-based Warner Brothers' Studio Tour

1 Mar 2012

An intricate 50ft scale model of Hogwarts School of Wizardry was revealed for the first time today. Harry Potter fanatics will get the chance to view it for themselves when it goes on display in London as part of the new Warner Brother's Studio Tour…

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The boy-wizard franchise goes out on a high

18 Jul 2011

(12A) 130min It gives this critic great pleasure to confirm that the final film in the franchise adapted from JK Rowling’s boy wizard publishing phenomenon is among the top three of the eight-part series. Since the series hit the ground running ten…

Emma Watson felt claustrophobic in UK

Celebrity Gossip

17 Jul 2011

Emma Watson opted to go to university in America because she felt "claustrophobic". The 'Harry Potter' actress had been expected to enrol in prestigious Cambridge University but felt it was important to leave the UK so she could be "normal" for a…

Daniel Radcliffe wants to become archaeology student

Celebrity Gossip

10 Jul 2011

Daniel Radcliffe wants to study archaeology. The 21-year-old actor is sad that the 'Harry Potter' movie series - in which he has played the titular boy wizard in all eight films - is coming to a close, but happy he will now have more free time to…

The highs and lows of Harry Potter’s outrageous fortunes

An evaluation of each of the films from the Harry Potter series

28 Jun 2011

Having earned £6 billion worldwide, Harry Potter is the highest grossing film franchise of all time. And while the critical reception hasn’t always matched the commercial one (no Academy Awards yet), the films have been as successful as JK Rowling’s…

A guide to Edinburgh's authors and books

Edinburgh, first City of Literature, boasts some of the world’s most famous and well-loved authors

16 Feb 2011

Challenge anyone who doubts Edinburgh’s claim to be a literary city to come up with another capital whose main station is named after a novel (Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley), one of whose football teams is named after another (The Heart of Midlothian…

The best upcoming events in Scotland in 2011

Highlights of the 2011 cultural calandar from Film, Music, Comedy, Theatre and Visual Art

3 Jan 2011

Huge gigs, inspiring theatre productions, comedy legends and two cute little waving bears – just a few of the things coming up in ‘11 that we can barely contain our excitement about

Harry Potter star to appear in Merlin

TV Gossip

18 Nov 2010

Harry Melling is to guest star in 'Merlin'. The 'Harry Potter' actor - who played spoiled bully Dudley Dursley in the wizard franchise - is due to play Camelot newcomer Gilli in Saturday night's (20.11.10) installment of the BBC One drama. While…

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1

16 Nov 2010

(12A) 145min The decision to split the final adaptation of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books into two episodes will mostly pay dividends at the accounting office of Warner Brothers, as on-screen the latest wizard tale, the seventh in the series, lacks…

Tom Felton is a romantic boyfriend

Celebrity Gossip

13 Nov 2010

Tom Felton is a "young Casanova" and writes love songs for his girlfriend. The 23-year-old actor - who shot to fame after starring as bad boy Draco Malfoy in the 'Harry Potter' franchise - has revealed he likes to surprise his partner Jade with…

Welcome to 3D hell - upcoming 3D films

The latest films unable to say no to the film technology

16 Sep 2010

Jackass 3-D The third documentary feature outing for Johnny Knoxville and his merry band of aging masochists is, you guessed it, in 3D. Why and to what effect remains a mystery. Out 5 Nov. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & 2 The…

Up close with Cherry Tree Lane, Skeletons and Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World

Edinburgh International Film Festival Blog

23 Jun 2010

Tuesday 22 Jun Paul Andrew Williams’ Cherry Tree Lane was one of the first films I saw here this year, and I did not like it. No sir. As I watched the London to Brighton director’s brutal tale of suburban home invasion playing out in real time, I…

Profile: Ian Hart

22 Apr 2010

Name Ian Hart Born Liverpool, 1964 Background Ian Hart’s role as Professor Quirninus Quirrell in the ongoing Harry Potter saga is only a footnote in a role-call of strong supporting performances. Hart started out with a Play for Today…

Harry Potter stunt disaster

Celebrity Gossip

29 Jan 2009

Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double has been hospitalised after an explosion on the 'Harry Potter' set. The unnamed 25-year-old suffered horrific injuries after a flying sequence using a harness went wrong, and the blast - which was part of the stunt…

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

27 Nov 2008

Prepare for some bleary eyed school kids on the morning of 4 December, as they recover from a rather special shopping trip the night before. At 12.01am the previous night, the book which helped Harry, Ron and Hermione defeat Lord Voldemort will finally…

Daniel Radcliffe's Potter party

Celebrity Gossip

4 Nov 2008

Daniel Radcliffe can't wait for the 'Harry Potter' film series to end. The 19-year-old actor, who has played the boy wizard for more than half his lifetime, is looking forward to having a party to celebrate the end of filming. A 'wrap party', on…

Naked wizard Daniel Radcliffe

Celebrity Gossip

15 Aug 2008

Daniel Radcliffe has revealed he will appear naked in the next Harry Potter film. The actor - who has starred as the teen wizard in five movies in the franchise based on the books by J.K. Rowling - admits he was unsure when he was told he would be…

Harry Potter goes Trainspotting

Celebrity Gossip

2 Jul 2008

Daniel Radcliffe says the new Harry Potter film will be like controversial British drug movie 'Trainspotting'. The 18-year-old actor - who has played teen wizard Harry in all five of the hit fantasy films - insists the sixth instalment, 'Harry Potter…

Daniel Radcliffe smokes 20-a-day

27 Mar 2008

JK Rowling may have just been added to the Forbes Celebrity Billionaires list, but the star of the Harry Potter adaptations is having less luck. Daniel Radcliffe’s co-stars are currently trying to wean him off his 20-a-day cigarette habit…

Emma Watson's Borrell ban

Celebrity Gossip

19 Feb 2008

Emma Watson's parents have banned her from seeing Johnny Borrell, it has been claimed. The 'Harry Potter' star's mother and father "went mad" after finding out their 17-year-old daughter had been partying with the Razorlight frontman last week, and…

Emma Watson's Bloom date

Celebrity Gossip

16 Feb 2008

'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson wants to date Orlando Bloom. The 17-year-old actress - who plays schoolgirl Hermione Granger in the hit movie franchise about a teen wizard - was recently linked to Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell but would rather…

Emma Watson's Borrell party

Celebrity Gossip

13 Feb 2008

'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson has been partying with Razorlight star Johnny Borrell. The 17-year-old actress - who plays schoolgirl Hermione Granger in the hit movie franchise about a teen wizard - was seen laughing and joking with the rocker at a…

Harry Potter hopefuls lose out to experienced actress

15 Nov 2007

Thousands of hopefuls who auditioned for a part in the new Harry Potter film have been cast aside in favour of an experienced actress. The role of Lavender Brown in The Half Blood Prince went to Jessie Cave - who can boast appearing alongside Helen…

Harry Potter tops poll of UK’s most re-read books

9 Nov 2007

The Harry Potter novels have topped a list of the most re-read books, according to a poll conducted to mark the 2007 Costa Book Awards. JK Rowling fended off competition from JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice…

Rowling completes Harry Potter fairytales

1 Nov 2007

JK Rowling has completed a set of handwritten fairytales mentioned in her last book – but is not planning to have them published. The Edinburgh-based author has written just seven of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which was a book left to Hermione by…

Rowling defends decision to ‘out’ Dumbledore

24 Oct 2007

JK Rowling has spoken about the furore surrounding her decision to ‘out’ Harry Potter’s head teacher Albus Dumbledore. The author told reporters at a news conference in Toronto that she had not made the revelations earlier because she had never…

JK Rowling signs 1,600 books to launch US tour

16 Oct 2007

JK Rowling kicked off a tour of the US yesterday, as she sat down to sign 1,600 books for schoolchildren in Los Angeles. The Edinburgh-based author said the event, which included a reading from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was an ‘amazing…

Signed Harry Potter books raise thousands for charity

1 Oct 2007

A collection of Harry Potter books signed by JK Rowling has raised almost £20,000 for charity after an internet auction. Considered one of just a few complete signed sets in the world, the seven books were kept under lock and key in an Aberdeenshire…

Harry Potter and the endless casting of British screen legends

20 Sep 2007

The Harry Potter big tent of British character actors we all know and love has increased its capacity to the tune of one. Which is an appallingly self-indulgent way of saying that Jim Broadbent has been cast in the next Harry Potter movie, which by…

Rare collection of Potter books to be auctioned

18 Sep 2007

A rare collection of signed Harry Potter books is to be auctioned to raise cash for a charity that supplies books to children around the world. The collection is thought to be the only of its kind in the world and is being kept under lock and key at…

Sex scenes no problem for Harry Potter

12 Sep 2007

Daniel Radcliffe has talked about taking on risqué roles in a bid to shed his Harry Potter boy wizard image. The 18-year-old filmed his first love scene when he was 16 for the film December Boys. The film, which was his first major role since joining…

Scottish screen roles prove a hit with tourists

28 Aug 2007

People flocking to the site of their favourite film or TV programme are providing a huge boost to the UK economy. A report, compiled by various film and tourism agencies, claims the phenomenon is worth as much as £2.9 billion to the UK economy, with…

News round-up

23 Aug 2007

Sir Sean Connery has topped a poll as the celebrity most people would want to hear reading their emails and text messages. The survey was launched by Avaya Inc, a company which creates software to combat the dangers of listening to voicemails while…

Chinese translations of Harry Potter already available

16 Aug 2007

Chinese state media have revealed that translations of the latest installment of the Harry Potter series are already available, despite the official release date being late October. However Chinese students managed to translate Harry Potter and the…

Potted Potter

Allan Radcliffe

9 Aug 2007

Judging by the feverish excitement rippling around the auditorium of Pleasance One, even the flimsiest association with the Harry Potter phenomenon can virtually guarantee a successful Fringe show. The task facing performers Dan and Jeff is to…

Not the end of Potter, says Rowling

27 Jul 2007

JK Rowling has offered a glimmer of hope to Harry Potter fans downcast after the final boy wizard book was published last week, with plans to write more material. The Edinburgh-based author said a new encyclopedia would include more information about…

Naomi Watts to play Draco in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

27 Jul 2007

Obligatory Harry Potter news Naomi Watts has signed on to the latest big screen outing for the boy wizard, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The King Kong actress is to play Draco Malfoy’s mother Narcissa in the penultimate movie in the series.