From the BBC comes this summary of the new characters and actors soon to be seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Thanks, Victoria, for the blurb from tomorrow’s Guardian: Harry Potter author JK Rowling has become embroiled in a row with her neighbours over plans to increase security at her house. The acclaimed writer wants Edinburgh City Council to give her permission to increase the height of the walls surrounding her £500,000 property and also install …read more!

Thanks to everyone who sent us this link to a BBC article which says “reports that actor Richard Harris may be too unwell to take part in the next Harry Potter film are ‘absolute rubbish’.” “It’s official. The Potter phenomenon refuses to end. After the books, the film and the clothes and the trinklets, it’s …read more!

Whoa! Thanks readers for telling us: Go to Harry Potter IRC for (albeit very blurry) pics from the second trailer!

“Chinese writers of children’s books which many children find boring and unattractive, should learn from the British writer J.K. Rowling and her best seller Harry Potter in order to win back readers, many writers and experts say …” (From the People’s Daily.) Coming Soon is carrying a report that Richard Harris may have to be …read more!

FRANTIC E-MAILERS: You can’t see the Lucius pic because I spelled his name incorrectly on the JPG. Sorry. That link should work. 🙂

Thankyou thankyou thankyou Michael, who sent us this first look at Jason Isaacs as Lucius, from a magazine called Total Film. Love the snake-themed walking stick. I realize the COS Pics page desperately needs updating. Soon, soon.

“The News of the World has hit back at one of its former journalists after he spoke publicly for the first time about his claim that editor Rebekah Wade ordered him to dress up as Harry Potter on September 11 …” (From the MediaGuardian.) The original article from The Independent can be found here. Website …read more!

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Although sales of Harry Potter product hit $80 million in the fiscal year ended May 31, that was $120 million less than the revenues the boy wizard generated in fiscal 2001 and as a result sales in Scholastic’s trade unit fell 33% to $215 million in fiscal 2002. The decline in Potter …read more!

Reader Andy sends us this link to an article from The Scotsman on how celebrity television presenters and authors are being drafted in to raise money to help popularise science among youngsters in Scotland. Among the possible presenters, JK Rowling and Robbie Coltrane. Medea, starring Fiona Shaw, opens in Berkeley (California) on 14 November.