What JK Rowling said about the first Harry Potter book - BBC News

JK Rowling - then known as Joanne - speaks in 1997 about how she felt seeing her first Harry Potter book in the shops.
It's 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published.
Rowling was interviewed by CBBC Blue Peter's Konnie Huq in December 1997.
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[@teganstar416]

It's so sweet to see how it all began just a woman writing in the cafe and I'm sure she wasn't expecting her books to go as far as they have right now

[@professorsnapesvideos6393]

Is that your username on SSO? I’m sure I recognise that name.

[@jessicak2530]

Wow she had the Hermione hairstyle back then!!

[@julianaalcantara3780]

The carachter Hermione was based on her

[@naziur]

Juliana Alcantara The character of Harry's mother was based on herself. There was a lot going on. Too complicated to explain.

[@julianaalcantara3780]

where did you see this information?

[@Digital111]

She never said Harry's mother was based on her. She said Hermione was based a bit on her like Juliana said. Also you might have heard that about Harry's mother because Warner Bros offered her to play Harry's mom in the films but she declined.

[@jomoody798]

she based Hermione in herself hehehe

[@marteenyo]

I can't believe this is is from 1997, Chamber of Secrets wasn't even released yet! What a nice little video to have seen.

[@raindropsneverfall]

I am 26 years old, and reading the Harry Potter series still has the power to calm my mind, entertain and inspire me :)

[@s.k.b2118]

I'm 16 and I've always been a massive fan, I was lucky to grow up with the books and I think they're great and suit everyone of all ages - a fellow Potterhead

[@renatenha]

I'm 33 and reading HP still give me tha same feeling

[@f3rzz476]

I bought all the books, but stopped Reading LOOOOOONG TIME AGO at page 100 or so of The order of the Phoenix. i want to resume it, but i think i will start with the first book and read it all again (i will try to find it in English because i have the latinamerican spanish versión... and pirated!!! oops!! all first 4 books!! I do have the last one in english :) and i think it will be a difficult change if i swap tongues at the end of the road :P wish me luck finding them :D

[@s.k.b2118]

+F3rzz Good luck my friend!

[@bekimselimi5148]

F3rzz too

[@Charles-Pettibone]

Kudos to her for actually keeping the number of books consistent with early plans and not allowing it to balloon out of her control.

[@aidansevern3134]

Love her. She's not afraid to say what she thinks, and I really respect her for that.

[@philipppaasch8929]

Gut, du sniffst.

[@Missmagazinebura]

Happy 20th anniversary of Harry Potter!

[@raiyanchowdhury7898]

maxine chan that

[@namdevpatil5146]

22346

[@sheaferguson1184]

Congratulations Joanne , you've changed countless lives 🤗

[@mooseboombastic8175]

Just talked go her, she said she's gay

[@sijochacko4031]

@@mooseboombastic8175 lmao

[@ianmcinally7128]

It is phenomenal that even at this stage she knew there would be 7 books. Amazing talent.

[@MrParkerman6]

What do you mean at this stage? She was already working on the third book here. So not that shocking.

[@timmycakes001]

She definitely gives off mad Hermione vibes writing in that cafe. Ugh I love her so much

[@saurabhjauhary1820]

this is the best thing i have seen today she looked so hermione....

[@jovanym2931]

She looks older here than now

[@tuttimelon26]

Can see how she was affected by her depression here before the fame and I guess the security of having money. She is now able to live more freely than she did back then (meaning she can take care of herself and her family financially.)

[@arnolt2590]

Being unemployed in Great Britain can be very harsh

[@missionpupa]

She probably just came out of depression here, and not eating well etc..

[@oscarfun100]

@@tuttimelon26 Also bad lighting here, lol.

[@alexman378]

Take into context how much her life sucked then. Single mother, in her 30s, working dead end jobs and hoping she can make a buck out of her writing. She was probably getting put down by people around her for being stupid enough to believe there was a chance, and she was being rejected by one publisher after the other. Now, she’s the architect of a multi billion dollar empire. Pretty inspirational, of course she’d look better after this point, this was probably the lowest point.

[@pleatedskirt18]

One of the most important writers of modern times. Not because the works are necessarily linguistically brilliant, but because they brought a whole generation of children back into reading, and for that reason alone I hole JKR up as a heroin of modern literature. JK, thank you. Thank you so very much for helping to open young minds to reading.

[@ashutoshniranjan9757]

she is a gem, my tears comes out, imagine how she turn everything gold by her touch i.e. cafe, publisher, book, train station, children's childhood, movies, craft works items, peoples heart, even not only the UK but entire world..🙏 even despite of her difficult time she navigate her life wonderfully, her strong believe in magic turns into real magic in her life. what a consciousness.. 💐💐❤

[@michaelhope8899]

Is it bad I remember this? I definitely remember seeing the shot of her looking through the cafe window.

[@WA-pd2cc]

Michael Hope no! it just means you're a true potterhead.

[@michaelhope8899]

No, instead she gave millions of pounds to help make their lives better back in their home countries - the place they are best suited to be.

[@ashleykitchin976]

There were some misleading figures about this as I recall looking into once. last I heard was that she donated 10 million and is estimated to be worth just shy of one billion, more so since the cursed child and fantastic beasts film, one would presume. Ten million is about 1% of her wealth if we use that old figure, I believe that's less than what the adverage person gives to charity as a percentage of their income and it's roughly the percentage which the government gives to over seas aid, not to mention internal charities. That being the same government she criticizes for not doing more when it can. As good as the books are she is sadly a hypocrite.

[@michaelhope8899]

Well she is a private citizen. Therefore she has a right to privacy and doesn't need to tell anyone how much she has donated.

[@ashleykitchin976]

She is more than capable of donating anonymously but where's the publicity in that? This would be cynical of me if not for the fact that she was later implicated in creating the misleading articles which listed her as one of the most generous UK celebrities. As the math shows the average person gives away more of their wealth than she does which makes her disingenuous. The books are still fantastic pieces of literature and the virtue signalling doesn't change that.

[@louiethemouseful]

Wow she LITERALLY wrote it. I was expecting her to be typing on a computer

[@Funny_dx07]

Living on State benefits Homeless Single mother Unemployed

[@fromspace7]

she mentioned typing on a computer. I dont think she wrote the whole thing by hand lol. just taking some random notes in the video

[@tgazza1587]

So sad that nicholson's cafe has closed now. Used to love going there as a student - such a calm place with such amazing views, and of course the knowledge that this incredible creation came to life there was always inspiring.

[@ram0n_h]

What an icon. True inspiration

[@suiiperable]

What's up with all the hatred

[@Bill-zp2mt]

She believe that Pewdiepie is a nazi, enough said.

[@Bill-zp2mt]

She do not understand intent from a humorous standpoint, so every joke "ever" made must have been hate speech for her ears.

[@ashleykitchin976]

This has to be bait.

[@fiachraoneil4492]

Ally Mormont he paid two guys to write it on a sighn just for a joke to see how far they would go dumbass

[@jovanym2931]

Grey Chip Get out

[@KasunGayantha]

I still remember it like yesterday, when I first read the #HP book #PhilosophersStone

[@Zoltarman]

That was back in the day. Everything is changed, her clothes and her appearance is a reflection of it. JK said that in an interview. You dress better. Would this woman in this video imagine herself as a Billionaire? That was real magic.

[@BJ-zd2or]

It's amazing what has come from all this! Me playing that ps1 Harry Potter, watching the films, reading the books, the actors and actresses we know to today grown up. Everything. Came and began in this cafe with a woman that felt lonely and used magic to create a story.

[@danielstevens8610]

J.K Rowling was awesome, inspires me to write a book I’m working on better. I like how she just said, I just finished the second one. That’ll be published next summer. Oh, and I’ve already started on number three now. She couldn’t wait to get em all done 😂

[@Leyuann]

"write about subjects you know a lot about" *writes about a magic school and wizards*

[@lumossk3657]

Take the hint muggles

[@thomasrainbow]

She's talking about what you should write when you first start writing.

[@pedro.mmm9]

well, she knows everything about the magical world of harry potter since she created it

[@aaronying4989]

Well the human part of the books are about many things she was interested in, government control , teenagers, relationships between children’s and teachers. Death of her mother was in Harry’s parents death. Family relationships. Quirky teacher personalities.

[@contraconnor]

Her story is so inspiring. ☺️

[@ahlamm-6141]

Harry Potter was published exactly 6 years before I was born, every time it’s my birthday ik it’s an important day for jk Rowling and many other people

[@andym28]

Christ there's still scaffolding on that street

[@johnoni5166]

10 years and 1 billion later, she looks 10 years younger.

[@natas5022]

10 years? lol it's 25 years now

[@irvyne6111]

I find her such an inspiring person!

[@pedro.mmm9]

She looked older than she does now. That's amazing.

[@AleksRokitski]

Oh Konnie... It's like I'm 11 again

[@k.5600]

Her hair looks amazing!

[@lilchromozome]

I started reading the first book this month and I'm loving it. I can't believe I haven't read them until now. I just got the rest because I want to read them all. It'll be a challenge to get past the last 4 but I'll do it.

[@JoanneRowlingofficial]

Hi.. Greetings dear Glad to hear from you. I appreciate your love, care and support Where are you watching from?.

[@debraawe1968]

why would you bring this up??? do you lot understand i nearly had a cardiac arrest right there???? never clicked on a video that fast! had me thinking something new was about to happen in the pottersphere! you cannot just bring up stuff like that man!!!!!

[@jamesgrey785]

She was a researcher for Amnesty...... real job MI5 culture creation department

[@captainobvious3024]

Definitely.

[@letsthink1991]

In December 1997 Daniel Radcliffe was still 8 years old and he too did not know that what is fate awaiting him!

[@rhaykoza]

I love this woman, she changed my life.

[@JoanneRowlingofficial]

Hi.. Greetings dear Glad to hear from you. I appreciate your love, care and support Where are you watching from?.

[@Bxcketzz]

Is it immature that I crack up every time I see “BBC” news? 💀

[@ARUchannel1]

we all agree it is the worst

[@watermelonineasterhay]

Have eaten a pizza by the window of that very cafe, and the toilets are full of HP graffiti. It's an amazing experience, recommended for any potter fan.

[@RadagonTheRed]

I couldn’t write on a cafe if my life depended on it.

[@tindomul8977]

Indeed there's scary stuff in the second book. I wasn't 11 yet when I first I read it and I remember it was super scary for me...

[@animationparmar5607]

I'm more interested in hearing about her next HP book xd

[@animationparmar5607]

jazz live fuck off trump I don't give a crap about you

[@animationparmar5607]

jazz live I'm blocking you mate fuck off 😂

[@ashleykitchin976]

As many my age will have done, I grew up with the Harry Potter books, fantastic stories as we all will agree. That cannot be changed by the ill infromed and hypocritical statements which the author has made through the platform that fans, such as myself, have given her on social media.

[@GablesHorse]

+Ashley kitchin Have to agree there. I admire her work, but her political views are being thrust down the throat of many impressionable young people via social media.

[@aprildannette9820]

she has kids you dweeb her opinions have nothing to do with her writing talent

[@matthewholder2788]

I don't feel like I'm on earth anymore when I read harry potter in my bed at night I feel like I am in the wizarding world then I have a harry potter theme dream most nights

[@hpbruin]

OMG She looks just like Hermione!

[@charliebowman785]

J.K is a wonderful and beauty woman. I just want she to feature some of the movies to come. It will be a pleasure to see her performing one of her characters.

[@jacobprater9660]

That womans books have been a escape for me since year 1

[@vickey111]

Its so interesting in the shot where you look at her outside of the window she looks exactly like what I would imagine adult Hermoine looking like.

[@GP71_OO]

OMG thank you so much BBC news for this video

[@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews]

She looks older here than she does 25 years later.

[@HK-dd2bo]

Wow, from where to where

[@benivanphillips]

Konnie's eyebrows at 0:16 😂😂

[@johnnilee2950]

One of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

[@jameshetherington1]

So much respect

[@rykerpercival8931]

I wonder if she modeled Mrs. Weasley after herself. I’ve only read the first books so far but I’m just picturing Ron’s Mom looking like J.k Rowling

[@viennehaake9149]

She writes some really funny stuff- a cauldron of hot burning love- something like that- but the funny lines just get thrown in so you can miss them..the names of the books on the Howarts students required list- hilarious. She is so clever and funny.

[@JoanneRowlingofficial]

Hi.. Greetings dear Glad to hear from you. I appreciate your love, care and support Where are you watching from?.

[@RobertK1993]

I was 4 years old in 1997 when first Harry Potter book the Philosopher Stone came out.

[@nicholasnoriega1205]

What an amazing woman

[@nicholaskong1673]

Thats crazy how she knew it would take 7 books to finish the story

[@AlmostGod007]

That Harry story has some potential ... She might become rich by those Harry Potter stories

[@Paul_Wetor]

After GOF was out I found a fan book called "Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter" which analyzed books 1-4 for clues. The authors noticed that in book 1 Mrs. Figg's house smelled like cabbages, as did a place in Diagon Alley. When book 5 came out, lo and behold, there's Mrs. Figg's secret revealed. That little obscure detail sat there for four books until it was finally used. Talk about planning!

[@familiewathes5830]

When you realise that this was filmed before she killed off Fred,Sirius, lupin, Tonks, snape, Dumbledore and Cedric (sorry if I’ve forgotten any others)

[@felipevillanueva1309]

She had the plot 5 years before starting writing, so i guess their deaths were planned by then.

[@eddyjohnson1096]

This is so powerful.

[@GarrettTheViking]

It's just weird to see her sitting in a cafe by herself. Nowadays, she'd have security guys with her at all times.

[@kernowarty]

How could she concentrate writing in a cafe????

[@aaronying4989]

I actually feel I can read/write more and concentrate more and be inspired in a cafe than at home many times.

[@ohwellwhateverr]

White noise helps me concentrate more than silence does. It's the same for her, obviously.

[@bennetts5331]

It's so great she did a book version of the films

[@filiptalimdzioski7281]

Rofl! The films were made off by the books Rowling made! The films were based off her books, did you even notice that Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone was wrote in 1996? but the movie was made in 2001?

[@elisabethn7962]

what's so sad is that there are crazy fanatic people who think they're Christians that say she has something to do with Satan because of the books that she's written. They won't allow her books to be read by kids in their churches.

[@Tulip_bip]

they say that " magic is a product of the devil! " it's bloody fiction you numbskulls!

[@MedicinaBuduschego--Bessarabov]

No. 21 the Chapter " The Adventure in an Ancient castle" Chapter "The Eaters of Death" "the Evil wizard punishes the guilty brutally" 1. The evil wizard talks that it is necessary to punish the guilty. 2. The magician holds a demonstration rally punishment. 3. To intimidate others The evil sorcerer takes away the life forces from the guilty to intimidate the others. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" No. 22 In the Chapter " The Journey to the Lair of the Witch Margery" Chapter 7 "The Will of Albus Dumbledore" "The brownie - elf helps the main character and beats by the kitchenware vile and evil negative character" 1. Brownie helps the main character and beats the villain and the villain - in "the Book of Fate" this is the brownie Shine- in "Harry Potter,"it is the brownie Kreacher 2. Brownie beats-thumps the scoundrel by the kitchenware - in the "Book of Fate" the Brownie Shine batters the wizard Merger by the kitchenwear. In "Harry Potter," the brownie Kreacher batters a scoundrel, a thief and a crook Mundungus with the frying pan. No. 23 the Chapter " The Adventures on the Swamp and the Death of the Evil Wizard" Chapter "The Flaw in the Plan" "the Evil wizard dies because of using his own spells" 1. The evil wizard uses a spell to kill the main character: - In the "Book of Fate" Zenzibar uses the spell against Lena and her friends. - In the "Harry Potter" wizard Volan de Mort uses the spell against Harry Potter. 2. This spell turns against the evil wizard. 3. The evil magician dies in a flash of light from lightning after applying his own spells. This story D. Rowling used twice: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow” "Harry Potter and the half-blooded Prince" No. 24 Chapter "Lena and the Brownie" Chapter 26 "the Cave" "the Main positive characters must cross the magical lake. To go across a magical lake, they must fulfill a special condition. If this condition is not implemented, then the characters will die. They don't know how to overcome the obstacle , but a method appears suddenly and they reach their aim" 1. To defeat the evil wizard, the main positive characters must cross the magical lake: - In " The Book of Fate," the magical lake cross Lena , the dog Astor and the Brownie Crybaby. In "Harry Potter and the half-blooded Prince" - Harry Potter and the Professor Dumbledore. 2. Before crossing the magic lake the characters see the Moon track on the surface of the lake. . 3. In order to cross the lake, they must complete a special condition, otherwise the characters will die. - In " The Book of Fate" along the surface of the lake they can cross only with good thoughts and noble aspirations; - In "Harry Potter" it is necessary to "get a means of conveyance which help to cross the lake, not to excite fury of beings, which he (Volan-de-Mort) settled under the water”. 4. The heroes were willing to risk, but did not know how to overcome awater barrier. Suddenly there was a way to overcome obstacles: - In the "Book of Fate" the dog Astor came to help Lena and Brownie Cry-baby, which brought the characters to the goal. - In the "Harry Potter" Professor Dumbledore suddenly found a small boat, which took the characters to the goal. 5. The sensations felt by the characters: - "Book of Fate", "the stars were burning brightly and it became as bright as in the afternoon. It was a breath of cool" - "Harry Potter", "he looked at the moonlit sea and at the sky with stars’. . "Harry felt the cold salty spray, striking him on the face." "Harry breathed the smell of salt, listening to the roar of the waves; a light, chilly breeze tossedhis hair, as he looked at the moonlit sea, at the star-studded sky." 6.The description of the water. "Book of Fate": " the diamond droplets of spray flew from under her feet." The book "Harry Potter" : "thousands of specks of Golden light played a few feet below his feet on floating dark water" - "Book of Fate": "But the narrow silver strip of moon track was separated from the shore a mysterious and black expanse of water". - The book "Harry Potter": "thousands of specks of Golden light played a few feet below his feet on floating dark water, illuminating the black rock wall." In these paragraphs of the description of the feelings of the characters, the description of the water, the starry sky, the Moonbeam and the description of the water below the feet of the girl Lena and Harry Potter should cause exactly to the same impression on thereader. The general characteristics describe phenomena of nature in this story are: 1. Moonlight on the water of the lake. 2. Dark or black water. 3. "Diamond drops of spray" or "thousands of Golden specks of light on the surface of the water. These drops are "underfoot of Lena" and in “ Harry Potter”- "below his feet". 4. "The sky is bright because of the burning stars, and became as bright as in the afternoon" or "the moonlit sea, at the star-studded sky." All these descriptions of natural phenomena in the book "Harry Potter" obscene repeat the same descriptions from the "Book of Destinies". No. 25 The Chapter " The Adventures in the Swamp and the Death of the Evil Wizard" Chapter 27 "The Tower of the Lightning ", "the Wizard dies from flash of light after the application of the spell. The action takes place on top of the tower". 1. The death of the wizard takes place on the tower. 2. The Wizard is killed with a flash of light or lightning. 3. Those who watched this action feel a sense of horror: "The Book of Fate": "the people on the square froze with horror" - "Harry Potter", "Harry screamed from horror"

[@rushofblood994]

I forgot Connie Huq existed

[@babbisp1]

0:32 She planned 7 books from the beginning.

[@JoanneRowlingofficial]

Hi.. Greetings dear Glad to hear from you. I appreciate your love, care and support Where are you watching from?.

[@gingerlegend96]

Harry potter is the best film series ever

[@YorktownUSA]

She looked like Hermione Granger at the end there 😊

[@angelgray701]

Awe ❤

[@cheimungkashung4727]

Wow she is lovely. Little does she knows she was gonna change the world with her stuffs.

[@hakubestgirl]

so she really did plan to write seven books from the get go. that's interesting. i know that she did eventually try milking the series with the Fantastic Beasts movies and the Cursed Child but it's cool that she really did end the original run with Deathly Hallows even if the books (and movies) were extremely popular at that time, so she stayed true to her word

[@melissamurillo9119]

My daughter did a report on J.K.Rowloing

[@thewanderer3224]

Tell your daughter to look up Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman first publication of a character called Timothy Hunter a boy who becomes a magician... Looks just like Harry Potter glasses same hair, had an owl was English as well... came out in 1990... the same time JK Rowling claimed she got the idea for Harry Potter... Check out Books of Magic and the more you read about them the more you realize this woman stole someone's else's idea as her own,

[@inkgeek9904]

I love our QUEEN!! I do some harry potter stuff on my channel

[@thenexus8532]

Did you watch the Haunting

[@lilyofthevalley9566]

I just realized I have never heard her speak before....

[@Cristobels-Green-Boots]

In Brighton UK, after HP publication --- scores of women sitting in cafe windows, writing! 😏

[@elisahaid8082]

She looked so much Older back then

[@Brandon-xq6wz]

she was depressed asf

[@Carlos1515]

It's Parseltounge, just incase you were wondering lol :)

[@KeizerHedorah]

JK is so cool, a true inspiration.

[@lewissmith350]

Great author.

[@nickbaker8614]

She is inspirational.

[@michaelh4227]

Oh boy, I can't wait to see what her third book is all about when it comes out!

[@nicholasnoriega1205]

Lol..

[@The92Abhi]

try reading Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's books, Beyond Birth and Death, The Journey of Self-Discovery etc.

[@abdirahmanjama9426]

She is national treasure

[@felani1647]

Paused 2 seconds in, to say it's 20 years now without seeing more than 3 minutes total of anything Harry Potter. Refreshing! Anyone else?

[@Bubble170]

Fel Ani this comment doesn’t make sense.

[@Bubble170]

Also it hasn’t even been 20 years since the first film came out so

[@aisha1066]

Blue peter lady anyone remember her??

[@ThatCoalSoul]

Nope!

[@Mehmet-yv7lp]

She is Hermoine cosplay!

[@robakles1]

Born on The same Day as me.

[@vaqaarazad4872]

Why da hate tho?

[@jovanym2931]

adam stewart Wow jealous much cause she is a billionaire and can write better than you

[@101yayo]

I am just sad that there were no Muslim wizards. Maybe Voldemort was a Muslim all along.

[@vaqaarazad4872]

101yayo there was a Muslim wizard: I just finished reading the Goblet of Fire and the referee at the Quidditch World Cup is called Hassan Mustafa.

[@byronmaxad9679]

Looked so beautiful nd still does. I'm talking about konnie Haq

[@kateoneill7226]

Is she a natural ginger? If so, she should not dye her hair! I'm a redhead too!

[@Batnano]

1:04 imagine if she was writing some new ideas that were added to the prisoner of azkaban

[@dongmingim]

Have we met before?

[@chucklefun487]

I like Harry Potter.

[@devakoli1348]

Inspirational character

[@joseph_zai]

We will never forget how there was an international outrage about 40 fake babies, but not about the 724 real ones.

[@curlyj2059]

Eyyy Blue Peter!! I wonder whatever happened to Connie!

[@j.b.9260]

She married Charlie Brooker.