Amanda Holden with some Deatheaters in The Great Hall at
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Dark Arts area open now

Last night, celebrities including Mary Berry, Amanda Holden, Simon Pegg, Jonathan Ross, Kirstie Allsopp, Conor Maynard, Jake Wood, Charlie Brooks and Gaby Roslin celebrated the launch of a new section devoted to the Dark Arts, encompassing Horcruxes and other sinister wizarding artifacts, in what is Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter’s first permanent addition since opening. As we posted last month, the addition features a larger, full-size, version of the Malfoy Manor set as well as many other exciting props!  A two-week event highlighting the Dark Arts will start this Friday 17th October – Monday 3rd November. A press release can be found below:

On the night celebrities were invited to a reception at the Studio Tour, where they walked the green carpet, before being greeted with a glass of celebratory bubbles. Following the spooky reception guests were invited into the Studio Tour for the official reveal of the new Dark Arts sets.

After walking through the Great Hall where the pumpkin-filled Hallowe’en feast was on display, celebrities including Amanda Holden, Charlie Brooks and Conor Maynard were treated to Dark Arts themed drinks, including a special bubbling cauldron cocktail, more bubbles and Butterbeer. Canapés and snacks served on tombstone slates were also on offer for celebrities to enjoy.

The new area includes the full Malfoy Manor set which became the headquarters of Lord Voldemort’s followers, the Death Eaters, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Celebrities including Jonathan Ross and Simon Pegg were able to peer into the drawing room that features ornate chandeliers, an imposing fireplace and the long, grand table around which Bellatrix Lestrange, the Malfoy family, the Death Eaters and Voldemort sat. Jonathan Ross, Amanda Holden, Conor Maynard, Gaby Roslin even took a seat at the iconic table

Celebrities also marvelled at the mannequin of captured Muggle Studies teacher Charity Burbage who is suspended above the set. In addition, the life-like model of Voldemort’s loyal 20-foot snake Nagini who sits on the mahogany table, was joined by a special guest as the real snake, who was studied by the Visual Effects Department as a basis for some of Voldemort’s snake Nagini’s, was on hand for the night to meet and greet the guests. Celebrities including Amanda Holden, Jonathan Ross, Kirstie Allsopp and Jake Wood even stepped up to the mark on the night and got up close and personal with the snake on the Borgin and Burkes set.

On the night there were also special appearances by the Death Eaters who were roaming around the Studio Tour and challenging celebrities to wand duels. Guests also had the chance to enjoy a variety of never-before-seen artefacts and props from Borgin and Burkes, the Knockturn Alley shop Harry accidentally stumbles into in Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets. In addition, a section of Dolores Umbridge’s Ministry of Magic office, including her garish kitten plates, perfectly putrid pink costumes and desk, were on show for guests. Mary Berry was even seen inspecting the china in Umbridge’s office.

This October, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter will unveil a new section devoted to the Dark Arts, encompassing Horcruxes and other sinister wizarding artefacts, in what is the Studio Tour’s first permanent addition since opening.