'Potter' stars' doodles raise thousands for charity

We recently reported that several Harry Potter stars donated doodles to an eBay auction to benefit the charity Epilepsy Action. The auction ended a couple of days ago, and Harry Potter stars alone raised $1,452.92 (937.97 GBP).

The doodle that fetched the highest price was that of David Bradley, who portrays Argus Filch and whose doodle sold for $272.82 (180 GBP). The doodle with the most bids was John Hurt, who portrays Mr. Ollivander and who had 33 bids placed for his drawing of a dog. In a close second place for most bids was Bonnie Wright, whose hand tracing had 28 bids and sold for $139.41 (90 GBP).

You can take a look at the doodles which were offered up for sale and see which ones fared best here. Looks like these stars, and the others who donated doodles to the charity, made some real magic happen with their generosity!

Warwick Davis and David Bradley to appear in ‘Doctor Who’

Harry Potter alums Warwick Davis and David Bradley are both set to appear in upcoming projects related to the popular and long-running British television series Doctor Who.

Warwick Davis will appear in a much anticipated episode of Doctor Who’s current season directed by popular author Neil Gaiman. Davis will guest star as “Porridge,” but little beyond the name is known about his role. We do know that the episode will feature famous Doctor Who villains the Cybermen. Says Warwick of getting the chance to work on the show:

I mean, it was an exciting moment to come face-to-face with one of those [Cybermen]. Seriously, it was a great thrill. I mean, it was a great thrill to be in Doctor Who. A career ambition. But to be in an episode written by Neil and to have Cybermen in it, was for me the jackpot.

David Bradley, who portrayed Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films, also scored a Doctor Who-related role. He will be appearing in a biopic special celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the show, which first came on the air in 1963. The movie, called An Adventure in Space and Time, will dramatize the genesis of Doctor Who, and Bradley has won the role of actor William Hartnell, who played the very first Doctor.

Like Davis, Bradley was very excited to get the chance to be involved with Doctor Who:

I’m absolutely thrilled. I first heard about this role from Mark while watching the Diamond Jubilee flotilla from the roof of the National Theatre. When he asked if I would be interested, I almost bit his hand off! Mark has written such a wonderful script not only about the birth of a cultural phenomenon, but a moment in television’s history. William Hartnell was one of the finest character actors of our time and as a fan I want to make sure that I do him justice. I’m so looking forward to getting started.

You can read the original articles here and here.

It sounds like both Warwick and David have a lot to be excited about! Will you be tuning in to see them on Doctor Who?

Dan Radcliffe apologized to Robbie Coltrane for Phone Prank

Daniel Radcliffe’s tendency to prank his fellow Harry Potter cast-mates often added levity to the set, but there was at least one time when his antics went a little too far.

Reportedly, Robbie Coltrane, who portrayed Hagrid in the films, was once a victim of a prank where the young actor changed the settings on his friend’s phone from English to Turkish. The joke seems harmless enough—except that Coltrane was left unable to make calls!

The infuriated actor had a hard time finding anyone on set who could change the settings of his phone back to English, and Radcliffe was left feeling understandably sheepish about what he had done. Coltrane remembers the event clearly:

Eventually we found a girl in the Harry Potter make-up department who was Turkish Cypriot. She phoned her mum and was chatting away in great detail until they sorted it out. I think Daniel was so upset at what had happened that he wrote me that note...'Dear Mr. Coltrane, I'm sorry I changed your mobile telephone into Turkish...

Have you ever been part of a prank gone too far? Let us know in the comments!

'Potter' star David Bradley to receive honorary degree and lands role in 'Doctor Who'

The veteran actor David Bradley - who portrayed Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film series - is set to receive an honorary degree this Summer from Warwick University. The graduation ceremonies will take place throughout the week of July 16th.

Additionally, the Yorkshire-born actor is also set to appear as Solomon in the second episode of the highly successful Doctor Who series. He previously voiced Shansheeth Blue in the story Death of the Doctor in the spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The seventh series of Doctor Who is scheduled to begin on August 25th, with David Bradley's episode airing on September 1st.

Congratulations to Mr. Bradley for your honorary degree!

Filch actor does sound recording for OOTP