Harry Potter filming puts market town 'on the map'

A man dressed in dark clothing stands on top of a chimney  in the early evening light. He is wearing a flat cap and holding his right arm above his head with a twig-like wand in his grasp.Image source, Alamy
Image caption,

An actor holding a wand was spotted on a rooftop in Skipton this week

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Filming for a new Harry Potter TV series has brought a touch of magic to North Yorkshire, with one actor spotted casting spells from the rooftops of a terraced street.

Based on JK Rowling's much-loved novels, production for the new HBO show - expected to span a decade - is already well under way, with earlier filming taking place in London, Devon and Cornwall.

This week crews were seen in Skipton, where excited residents watched as Westmoreland Street was transformed into a film set.

Charlotte Alderson, 53, said: "We've had bits of filming before, but I was surprised that they've picked it for something as colossal as this, so I'll be very excited to see the end result."

The show, which follows the story of a boy who learns he is a wizard on his 11th birthday, will see Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.

HBO previously said the new series would have more breathing space to explore the plot lines from the books without the time constraints of a film.

Despite mounting speculation about the project, the production team has remained tight-lipped about the details, only confirming that it was "a filming project by Brown Cat Productions".

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New Harry Potter TV series being filmed in Skipton

Skipton resident Shelley, 32, said she had been speculating what the terraced street would be used for in the show.

"There is quite a lot of different kinds of places that you get within the Harry Potter universe," she said.

While Yorkshire has been a popular film location previously, Shelly said it felt "special" that Skipton had been chosen for this production.

"I've always been a big Harry Potter fan, it was just a fluke really that it happened on the street next to where I live," she said.

The image captures a street scene where filming is actively taking place. In the foreground, a sign reads: "Filming In Progress. We Apologise For Any Inconvenience Caused." Attached to the sign are three sheets, likely maps or diagrams, providing logistical details about the filming setup.
Behind the sign, a row of brick buildings lines the street, including a visible "Fish & Chips" shop. Orange safety barriers and construction equipment are positioned along the road.Image source, BBC/Kit Taylor
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A road closure is in place while crews film in Skipton

For Rachel Keighley, the production was "exciting" for the town though it brought some mixed feelings due to JK Rowling's views on gender identity.

The 31-year-old said: "I'm a queer woman myself, I'm an ally for trans folk and I know that there's some real tensions for those who feel that something that's monetising and helping JK Rowling isn't brilliant but at the same time we know that it's given a lot of people hope and joy through their childhoods."

A man dressed in dark clothing stands on top of a chimney  in the early evening light. He is wearing a flat cap and holding his right arm above his head with a twig-like wand in his grasp. A member of film crew can be seen standing on a platform in front of himImage source, Alamy
Image caption,

Filming took place at dusk on the rooftops above Westmoreland Street

Nigel Nicholson, 53, owner of Cosy Cup with Snack Bar, said he hoped the show would boost the town's tourism even further, building on the influx already brought by Channel 5's All Creatures Great and Small, which was filmed nearby.

He said: "It's always exciting to have film crews hanging around and maybe put Skipton a little bit more on the map than what it already is."

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