Fans fall under spell of Potter magic

Harry Potter weaves his magic across cinemas from today as the latest film of the young wizard’s adventures opens across Ireland and the UK.

Thousands of fans thronged Leicester Square in central London last night for the European premiere of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Organisers said the crowd was three times the size of that at the New York premiere.

Star of the film Daniel Radcliffe signed autographs for thrilled fans before he entered the cinema. He said: “It’s so brilliant, it’s so exciting to be here. It’s bigger than New York and I didn’t think that could be possible.”

Questioned about his new heart-throb status, he said: “It’s great, I have no problems with it so far.”

Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, set tongues wagging by holding hands during a photo-call for assembled media.

Watson earlier said about the crowd: “It’s crazy. It’s very flattering more than anything else.”

Watson said she had been nervous about working with new director Alfonso Cuaron, but said: “He’s very talented, I loved working with him and I think I learned a lot.”

Of the new film, she said: “It’s a bit darker. It has a much colder, eerier feel to it.”

She said her character was “girl power. She’s rock and roll, she’s feisty, she walks out of classes and punches teachers.”

Author J K Rowling said it was only at premieres that she really appreciated just how huge the Harry Potter phenomenon was. “I love it, it’s just such fun. It seems to be even bigger than New York.”

She said she was working hard on the new book which was “well underway” but declined to give a date for its completion. She also praised the young stars of the films: “You could not meet a nicer, saner bunch of people.”

The film sees Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione return for their third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The teenagers are forced to confront their darkest fears as they tackle a dangerous escaped prisoner and the foreboding Dementors who are sent to protect them.

American student Amy Sanmann, 20, from Oklahoma said she was especially pleased to be at the premiere in London: “I’ve read all the books and it’s really exciting. This was the real premiere for me. This is where the books are set so it’s more real and special to be here.”

Amy said she was looking forward to seeing how the characters had grown and matured.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third movie in the hit children’s series penned by author J K Rowling. Harry Potter has proved a global hit and netted a massive £435m (€654m) for Rowling.

Olivia Dixon, 15, from Hereford, made the journey to London in the hope that she would catch sight of one of the film’s stars.

She said: “I love the films and I love the books. I want to see the people who make it. It’s an amazing story and it’s nice to see it on film.”