Safety order for Harry Potter film company over stunt double's back injury

The production company making a new Harry Potter film has been told to take steps to improve safety after an accident left a stuntman injured.
David Holmes, a stunt double for the film's star Daniel Radcliffe, suffered a serious back injury in the accident at Leavesden Studios, near Watford, Hertfordshire, on January 28.
The set was closed for more than a week while the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched its investigation.



The HSE said today the investigation is continuing, though an interim measure has been taken in the form of an improvement notice.
It means that DDD Co Ltd, set up for the production of the film for which Mr Holmes was practising stunts, has until the end of June to make improvements.



It is understood Mr Holmes, who is originally from Romford but lives in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was rehearsing an aerial sequence when he was injured.
He was taken to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, in Stanmore, north-west London, which counts treatment for acute spinal injuries among its specialities.
Hundreds of get well messages have been posted on a Facebook page set up by Mr Holmes's brother Adam.
The group David's Get Well Wishes has more than 1,300 members.
The next film in the series based on JK Rowling's books, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, is due to be released in the summer.
Mr Holmes was taking part in a stunt during pre-production work on the seventh film in the series, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.

Harry Potter snubbed by experts in list of all-time greatest children's books

The magic of Harry Potter has failed to cast its spell over a Children's Laureates list naming the favourite children's books of all time.
Author JK Rowling's phenomenally successful wizard adventure series - which has sold 400million copies worldwide - failed to get one mention in a list dominated by classic books such as Just William and Little Women.

The titles were chosen by the current Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen, and his four predecessors, Quentin Blake, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo and Jacqueline Wilson




Only five of the 35 books selected were published in the last 20 years and a fifth of the titles were released in the 19th century.
Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist was the oldest, a clear 170 years before the newest title to make the grade - Mr Gum And The Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton, published last year and described by Rosen as an 'eye-watering comedy'.
Seven titles from the 1930s made it, including The Sword In The Stone by TH White, Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild and PL Travers's classic Mary Poppins.
Wilson said: 'I would love to be Mary Poppins, admired by everyone, totally in control, never turning a hair even when flying through the air with her carpet bag and parrot-Headed umbrella.'
The most popular authors, with two picks apiece, were E Nesbit for Five Children And It (chosen by Blake) and The Railway Children (chosen by Wilson); and Robert Louis Stevenson for A Child's Garden Of Verses (chosen by Fine), and Treasure Island (chosen by Morpurgo).
Speaking of his love for Treasure Island, Morpurgo said: 'This was the first proper book I read for myself.





'Jim Hawkins was the first character in a book I identified with totally. I was Jim Hawkins.
'I lived Treasure Island as I read it. And I loved it. Still do. Wish I'd written it!'

The works were selected for The Laureates' Table, a promotion at bookseller Waterstone's, which forms part of 10th anniversary celebrations for the children's laureate.

Sarah Clarke, Waterstone's children's buying manager, said: 'I'm sure it will be a surprise to many that the list does not include more recent bestsellers like JK Rowling's Harry Potter.

'But it's great to see the laureates choosing some timeless greats like The Railway Children and Just So Stories and introducing them to a new generation of readers - that's what the laureates are all about.'

Other names to have made the cut include Monty Python star Terry Jones, for his 1981 book of Fairy Tales, Oscar Wilde for The Happy Prince and Booker Prize winner Ian McEwan, along with Roberto Innocenti, for Rose Blanche.

The role of children's laureate, which has a bursary of ?10,000, is awarded once every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of children's books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field.

The idea originated from a conversation between previous poet laureate Ted Hughes and Morpurgo.

Illustrator Blake was the first children's laureate, chosen in 1999, and Rosen is the most recent.

Daniel Radcliffe and Harry Potter co-star pay emotional visit to badly injured stunt double

The stars of Harry Potter turned out to visit Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double yesterday after he suffered serious spinal injuries on the set of the latest film.
Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in the blockbuster movies, joined Radcliffe to offer support to David Holmes, who is still receiving treatment at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in north London.
The stress of the emotional visit clearly took a toll on 19-year-old Radcliffe, who lit up a cigarette as he emerged from the spinal unit.

It proved too much for Felton's girlfriend Jade Olivia too - she had to be comforted by the actor as they left the hospital arm-in-arm.




Support: Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Felton and girlfriend Jade Olivia stopped in at the spinal unit of at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in north London yesterday

Holmes was rehearsing a flying scene involving an explosion when he plummeted to the ground on January 28.
He remained conscious after the accident but told crew members: ‘I can’t feel my legs.’ He was taken to hospital as fears grew that he had suffered a paralysing back injury.
A statement released on behalf of Mr Holmes's family thanked people for their thoughts and prayers and added: 'We are trusting in the expertise of the medical staff who are caring for David.'

Holmes, 25, a former competitive gymnast, had been rehearsing scenes for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows at the Leavesden film studios near Watford.

A source said at the time: ‘It is thought he may have been caught by the explosion and hit the ground very hard.


Emotional visit: Felton comforted his girlfriend as they emerged from the
spinal unit


VIP visitor: Radcliffe, who was in New York when David Holmes was injured on January 28, spent time with his stunt double

‘He told crew members who went to help him he couldn’t feel anything from the waist down.


Harry Puffer: The actor was spotted smoking outside the hospital

'Everyone is just hoping he makes a good recovery. It has come as a terrible shock.’

Holmes, who has worked as Radcliffe’s body double on all the Potter films, was initially taken to A&E at Watford General Hospital, but transferred to a specialist spinal injury hospital when the extent of his injuries became apparent.
He is featured on the DVD bonus features for Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire. Radcliffe is shown asking him for advice before he shoots a scene where he has to slide off a roof.
Holmes, who is wearing Harry Potter glasses and a brown wig for the scene, reassures the actor and gives him a pat on the arm.

Radcliffe, who was in New York at the time of the accident, has previously spoken about the stunts which Mr Holmes is required to perform.

‘I do the majority of the stunts but there are some where it’s too high a risk,’ he said.

The actor also described Mr Holmes as an ‘amazing gymnast’.

Daniel Radcliffe's stunt double 'paralysed' after explosion on film set of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double has suffered serious spinal injuries on the set of the latest Harry Potter film.
David Holmes was rehearsing a flying scene involving an explosion when he plummeted to the ground.
He remained conscious but told crew members: ‘I can’t feel my legs.’ He was taken to hospital as fears grew that he had suffered a paralysing back injury.


Injured: David Holmes, left, with Daniel Radcliffe on the set of The Goblet of Fire

Mr Holmes, 25, a former competitive gymnast, has been rehearsing scenes for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows at the Leavesden film studios near Watford.
Things went wrong on Wednesday as he was practicing a flying sequence in a harness.
An explosion, which was part of the stunt, caused him to fall to the ground.
A source said: ‘It is thought he may have been caught by the explosion and hit the ground very hard.


Accident scene: Leavesden Studios, near Watford, where the stuntman was filming for the latest Harry Potter film when he was injured in an explosion on set

He told crew members who went to help him he couldn’t feel anything from the waist down.

'Everyone is just hoping he makes a good recovery. It has come as a terrible shock.’
Mr Holmes, who has worked as Radcliffe’s body double on all the Potter films, was initially taken to A&E at Watford General Hospital,
but transferred to a specialist spinal injury hospital when the extent of his injuries became apparent.


Boy hero: Daniel Radcliffe as schoolboy wizard i the Order of the Phoenix

His parents are understood to be by his bedside at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, North-West London.
Last night, there was no answer at the home in Leigh- on- Sea, Essex, Mr Holmes shares with 24-year-old Gemma Crowley, who is believed to be his girlfriend.
A spokesman for Leavesden studios said: ‘We can confirm that a
member of the Harry Potter production was injured in an accident that took place on Wednesday.
‘Out of respect for his family, we are unable to comment further at this stage, but can confirm that it was not a member of the cast.’


Footage from all of the Harry Potter movies has been filmed at Leavesden Studios, which has permanent sets for Dumbledore's study and Hagrid's hut

Mr Holmes is featured on the DVD bonus features for Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire. Radcliffe is shown asking him for advice before he shoots a scene where he has to slide off a roof.
Holmes, who is wearing Harry Potter glasses and a brown wig for the scene, reassures the actor and gives him a pat on the arm.
Radcliffe, 19, has spoken about the stunts which Mr Holmes is required to perform. ‘I do the majority of the stunts but there are some where it’s too high a risk,’ he said.

The actor also described Mr Holmes as an ‘amazing gymnast’.
It is not known whether Radcliffe, who is currently in New York, has been made aware of the accident.

'Death Eaters' target London in spectacular new Harry Potter film

This spectacular sequence is London seen through the eyes of Harry Potter's enemies the Death Eaters.

The scenes - in which evil Lord Voldemort's henchmen launch an air attack on Trafalgar Square and other landmarks, including the Millennium Bridge - form the centrepiece of the next cinema version of the young wizard's adventures.


A Volde move: Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters attack Trafalgar Square in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince


Dumble-score: The Millennium Bridge comes under fire in the newly released movie trailer

The action unfolds on a new trailer, already one of the most downloaded on the internet, as fans scramble for a foretaste of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince.

But the assault on London is an invention which does not feature in JK Rowling's original book.

It is the first time the series has deviated significantly from the novels and will surprise many fans


Destruction: London's Millenium Bridge is shattered in spectacular fashion


Allies: Harry with head teacher Dumbledore


Play ball: No Harry Potter film is complete without a game of Quidditch


Up in flames: Snape watches on as Hagrid's hut burns down

'It was a pretty spectacular opening,' a member of a test audience in Chicago wrote last month.
The rest of the film did not get such a glowing response however, with some branding the film 'too romantic' and 'underwhelming'.
'The problem with all of this romance is All of This Romance. It dominates the movie, drawing our focus away not only from major plot points – which fall disastrously through the cracks – but also deters the mood,' wrote one anonymous reviewer on a movie blog after the screening.
The Half-Blood Prince is the second of the series to be directed by Briton David Yates.









'Once you're hooked into these stories, it's really difficult to let go,' he has said.

'The audience has grown up with these characters. I think that gives them a very special relationship. I can't think of any other movie franchise that has had that.

'They started out at 10 or 11, and now they're 18 and 19.'

The movie, out on 17 July, will be followed by the final part of the series, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - which will be split into two films when it is released in 2011.

By then Danie l Radcliffe, who plays Harry, will be 22, while the wizard is only 17 in the final book

Emma only had eyes for Jay

Dressed as her character Hermione in jeans and a checked shirt, Emma cuddled up to Jay in the sunshine as crew members set up the shoot.
Despite being linked to Italian actor Roberto Agnillera and Edinburgh University philosophy student Francis Boulle last summer, Emma only had eyes for Jay.
Emma started dating the Prince William-lookalike last March, shortly before her 18th birthday.
They holidayed together in Ibiza in July with Bee Shaffer, the daughter of Vogue editor Anna Wintour.


It must be love: Emma sneaks a kiss with Jay Barrymore in between takes on location in Scotland for the new Harry Potter film

Speaking about her love life recently, Emma declined to give any details about Jay, but said: 'People I’ve dated have been friends of friends. I’d be unlikely to go out with anyone famous. I just wouldn’t.'
Prior to dating Jay, Emma was in a relationship with rugby player Tom Ducker.
After a low-key family meal to celebrate her birthday last Wednesday, Emma spent the weekend filming in Scotland instead of out partying, so Jay decided to join her in the romantic location.
After spending most of her birthday filming at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, a dressed-down Emma returned to her father's London home in a tracksuit for a quiet dinner.
Writing on her official website, Emma admitted she had been too busy to think about her birthday.
She said: 'It looks like my birthday has snuck up on me. I sooo don't want to be 19. I can't believe how much has happened.
'So just a quiet one this year. As you know everything is so busy with my filming schedule. I'm really looking forward to a home-cooked dinner with my family.'

Affectionate: Emma leads her Prince William-lookalike beau through the Scottish hillside

Hogwarts' mature students: Harry and Hermione hit the town in new Potter film

They were ten years old when they won their parts in the Harry Potter movie.
But time has moved on, and Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are now seasoned actors, filming their seventh feature film.
As they recorded their scenes in Piccadilly Circus last night the three were virtually unrecognisable from the fresh-faced 10 and 11-year-olds who were introduced to the world back in 2000.


Dramatic scene: A glamorous Emma Watson looks scared as she films alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in London's Piccadilly Circus last night

Then an innocent Daniel told reporters 'I think I'm a tiny bit like Harry because I'd like to have an owl', while Emma insisted she was not as 'goody two-shoes' as her character.

Radcliffe, now 19, who plays the young wizard, brought Piccadilly Circus to a standstill as he shot scenes for Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.
Along with Rupert, 20, and Emma, 19, who play Harry's friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he was reportedly filming what Harry Potter fans would recognise as the 'cafe attack' scene from the book.




Tired? Daniel, Rupert and Emma were all caught yawning on set as they filmed late at night in London

The three joined up to 400 extras to film until 5am today.
The scene takes place after the trio of friends flee the wedding of Ron's older brother Bill Weasley to Fleur Delacourt after finding out that Rufus Scrimgeour is dead and the Ministry of Magic is now under Voldemort's control.
With the boys dressed in suits and Hermione in a stunning red dress, the pair arrive at a Muggle cafe, where they believe they are safe until they spot two Death Eaters.


Fresh faced: Rupert, Daniel and Emma in 2001 in a scene from Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone


And action! Daniel, Rupert and Emma walk through the arches of the Trocadero in Piccadilly Circus

The Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling's last book in her best-selling series, will be split into two parts for the big-screen adaptation.

The cast and crew started filming the first part in February.

Part I is due for release in 2010, with Part II out in 2011. The prequel, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, will be released in the UK on 15 July.
It was originally scheduled for release last November, but was delayed so Warner Bros studio had a guaranteed 'major summer blockbuster' after the Hollywood writers' strike delayed a lot of movies.


On the run: Emma leads the trio to the Muggle cafe after fleeing the wedding



Fear: Emma and Rupert spot the Death Eaters arriving



Getting ready for a close-up: Emma is given fake bloodied injuries by a make-up artist, while a crew member checks Daniel is ready for screen