Thanks to all who emailed! (We were partying for New Year’s and not at our computers.) The new wizard of the month at JKRowling.com is: Derwent Shimpling (1912 – present) Ate an entire Venemous Tentacula for a bet and survived, though is still purple. Thanks for the many emails letting us know the News and …read more!

And the year ends with news! The current issue of Premiere has our first look at Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Note that this picture is pre-first-task – and the dragonhide and sleeve-horns on Skeeter’s costume. Thank you Deniska for the scan! Also thanks MuggleNet for the article: Another year at Hogwarts, another director charge. …read more!

Happy New Year everyone! Because 2005 is going to be such a big year for Harry Potter fans, we thought now was a good time to look back at 2004, which wasn’t too shabby either where we’re concerned. Editor Sue scoured our archives and found all our 2004 highlights, so we hope you enjoy this …read more!

Actor David Thewlis (Remus Lupin) will be seen in several new films in 2005, and the trailers for these movies are now online. In “Kingdom of Heaven“, a film about the Crusades starring Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson, David will play a priest named Hospitaler . The website is now open (flash site), and the …read more!

A few days ago we told you that Oliver and James Phelps and Devon Murray (the Weasley twins and Seamus in the Harry Potter films) were to appear in the Sunshine State in January for “The Coolest Show on Earth” in Orlando, Fla. And this has turned into a big rigamarole, so read below for …read more!

Today, Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall) is celebrating her 70th birthday. Happy Birthday Maggie!

The Independent has a new interview with actor Timothy Spall (Pettigrew). While it is good article, there is only a brief mention of his returning to the role the upcoming Goblet of Fire film. Next up, he reprises the role of Peter Pettigrew in the latest instalment of the epic JK Rowling saga, Harry Potter …read more!

We’ve watched the news of the devastating South Asian tsunamis with mounting horror and know that you have, too. We know our readers in that region are few, but pray that they are all safe and sound. Our prayers are with the victims and their families. For a time TLC’s pages will host links to …read more!

PoA crops up in a few places in the Entertainment Weekly Year End issue: The article on sequels note that the “third time’s the charm Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban” landed a broom’s sweep shy of the previous films, but it was still enough to land it as the No. 32 all time …read more!

Happy birthday to our editorial director, Melissa, who spent a lot of time over the few weeks printing mailing labels and stuffing envelopes with stickers for our Leaky charity drive, Get a Clue 3 (results to be announced after the holidays). Have a great day, Melissa! (Melissa has broken in here to say, first of …read more!