Tonight:
3°c
With a single dessert and just two glasses of wine our bill was kept in check - but the effort of doing so was not much fun
EXCLUSIVE: David Cameron reveals his faith in God, his fear of failure and his dread that another of his children could die
More...
Date set for final Harry Potter book: July 21
Last updated at 10:07am on 02.02.07
Harry Potter author JK Rowling
Actor Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
The seventh and final Harry Potter book will be published on July 21, it has been announced.
Publisher Bloomsbury revealed the long-awaited date.
July 21 is a Saturday and the book will go on sale at midnight. Bookstores are bracing themselves for unprecedented scenes of Potter mania.
More here...
• What will Hermione say, Harry?
• Spears caught a Brit short in the men's room?
• 'Jude made me lose my innocence,' says Sienna
• Jemima thrills with more than a hint of Hurley
Click here for more showbiz news
Author JK Rowling has said that two characters die in the final instalment - and fans will be desperate to discover if Harry is one of them.
Rowling revealed the name of the seventh book in December. It will follow Harry during his final year at Hogwarts.
The author has hinted that two of the main characters will meet their ends.
"We are dealing with pure evil here. They don't target extras, do they? They go for the main characters - well, I do," she said.
The last book, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, broke UK records by shifting 2,009,574 copies on its first day of release.
It is 10 years since Rowling published the first book, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone. The Harry Potter series has sold 325 million copies worldwide and been translated into 64 languages.
The first four books have been adapted into hit films starring Daniel Radcliffe as the boy wizard.
Online retailer amazon.co.uk started taking pre-orders for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows on December 22.
Head of books Christopher North said: "Customer demand on the back of JK Rowling's announcement of the title back in December was incredible. At one point, the orders we received for the book were more than five times higher than those for the rest of the Top 20 selling books combined.
"Now that the publication date has been announced, we expect another massive surge of pre-orders from the UK public.
"July 21 will be Harry Potter Day all over the world.
"It may be a long time before we see another book that commands as much anticipation, attention and demand as this final book in the Harry Potter series."
Reader views (5)
The Harry Potter books have been a huge success and encouragement for children to begin reading, especially young boys. The character, Harry, is someone every boy can relate to, as he started out thinking he was just a normal kid. Also, I have never know a book to appeal so much to both children and adults.
As for me, I have always loved to read, and my friends and I have lenghthy discussions about what J.K. Rowling could possibly come up with in the final installment. We are all greatly looking foward to Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows. It will be a very sad day, however, when I finally realise there is no more to come. No doubt the books will continue to be read repeatedly by many people, both adults and children, all over the world.
In respect to Daniel Radcliffe's role in the stage production Equus, I say well done. It is great for many to know he is able to cover more difficult and diverse roles than only Harry Potter. No one wants to be a one-show pony. To all those who oppose his decision and question why he would consider such a role, remember this- he can't stay as the beloved boy-wizard forever.
So, my final words. Bring on the 7th book!
- Hannah, Christchurch, New Zealand
I find the whole Harry Potter thing, particularly the gratuitous hyping of an extremely badly written series of books, a horrifying mirage of absolute nonsense. But, of course, the final effort could prove me wrong.
Can't wait for JKR's follow-up money-spinner; perhaps a slim volume (please!) on how it feels to be rich and famous on the back of zilch.
- Ted, Shetland Isles
I'm 26 years old, and I've followed this series since it's original publication. I had the Potter-fever before it became the mad craze it is today. Heck, my little brother (who is now 16) insisted that we see every single movie at the midnight showing the day it comes out and that we wait in line at midnight for every single new volume.
Even though I am sad to see the finality looming ahead, I'm still thrilled to read the conclusion. I also am extremely interested to see what the Potter Trio will do once the final movie is made. I applaud Daniel Radcliffe for branching out and testing the barriers and limits... that not only takes extreme talent, but an incredible fortitude and sense of self.
I'll see y'all in the bookstores at 12:01am on July 21st!
- Hope Darby, Florence, Alabama US
I came across an article in a local paper today, where it spoke of this new role Daneial Radcliffe is taking on, in a play where he will be nude.
In this same article, a woman who was not identified, basically said that they as parents feel Radcliffe should not appear nude. The claim was that her young son looks up to him as a role model, also saying they are disappointed and will not go to any fuiture movies he makes.
I would like to address that woman, whomever she may be: No actor, not even Radcliffe should have to live up to or down to any one else's expectations of him. I sincerely doubt that her child looks to Daniel himself as a role model given his young age, but rather it is more than likley that her child looks at the character Radcliffe plays in the Harry Potter movies as the role model. As charming as the character is and for as well as Daniel plays him, the character does not live anywhere other than on celluloid and in the wondeful books created by Rowlings. It is her right to not take her child to see anything Radcliffe does in the future since it is her child, however she has no right to try to dictate how an actor should stretch themsleves in whatever roles they choose to play. It is after all called ACTING and Daniel does it very well. If his nudity offends, then stop looking, and quite critisizing his acting choices. It is his career and not yours. He may be in the public eye but he is his own man and we do not own him, SO LAY OFF!
- Debra Graves, Denton TX USA
I think the parents should realize that,yes HARRY POTTER was a god to some on looking kid, and they looked up to him, but they should also remember that DANIEL RADCLIFFE, is also any actor, not mentor, and now he want to show his other talents he has , because acting could either keep him up comming and front runner or forgotten , because of harry potter fame only. He needs to branch out now why he is still young.
- John Ambrose, sag harbor,ny 11963 , usa
