According to the Official London Theater Guide, Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon) will be replacing Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) in Alan Bennett’s new play The Habit Of Art due to Michael being ill. Frances De La Tour (Madame Maxime) is also in the play.

Nicholas Hytner, the National Theatre’s Director, who is also directing The Habit Of Art, commented: “We’re all extremely sorry that Michael Gambon has had to withdraw from The Habit Of Art but Alan Bennett and I couldn’t be more grateful to our old friend Richard Griffiths for agreeing to take on this considerable challenge at such short notice.

“The Habit Of Art is about the business of putting a play together as much as it is about making music or poetry. Richard Griffiths will play the actor, Fitz, who plays the poet W H Auden in a play set in a rehearsal room as a group of actors work through a play about Auden and Benjamin Britten. We’re looking forward to taking creative advantage of this unexpected twist in our own rehearsal process.”