
Harry Potter star defends Snape casting in HBO adaptation
Isaacs labelled critics of Essiedu's casting as 'racist,' asserting that Essiedu is one of the finest actors he has ever seen.
Essiedu's casting has also drawn attention due to his public stance on trans rights, which differs from that of Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling.
The new HBO Max series is planned as a faithful adaptation of the Harry Potter books, with each season covering one of the seven novels.
Filming for the series is scheduled to begin this summer at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Hertfordshire, with a likely debut in late 2026 or early 2027.
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Nuneaton gallery hosts seaside-inspired summer activities
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BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
Key Theatre panto moves to new venue as Raac repairs push opening
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Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ore Oduba opens up on his sister's heartbreaking suicide as he reveals how their painful loss has changed his whole outlook on life
Ore Oduba has opened up on his sister's heartbreaking suicide and revealed how their tragic loss has changed his whole outlook on life. The presenter, 39, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, told how his family have had have a 'really difficult year' amid the passing of sibling Lola, who died in April. And in a candid new interview, Ore vowed to 'make the most of every single second' as he reflected on his sibling's 'brave' choice to find the peace in death that they couldn't find in life. Speaking on John Reynolds' Extraordinary Life Stories podcast, Ore shared: 'I guess we have been through a really difficult year as a family and I was very ready for that to kick off a new chapter in my life and it did. I'm grateful to him (Dad) for everything he gave us, I wasn't prepared to lose my sister. 'She has been with me every day since. My sister is non binary they told us in their goodbye letter. They've been with me every day since and what my sister did in choosing to find a peace in death that they couldn't find in life; that was strength. That was courage and that was brave.' He continued: 'And having gone through the last four or five years of their life and hearing about their struggles physically and emotionally when actually my sister did more living in the actual five years of their life than the previous 32, and still made a decision that they couldn't carry on living in this world. 'What they did for all of us in those last weeks that has given me the strength every day and my responsibility now is to carry that legacy because nothing is hard compared to what my sister went through.' The TV star then told how his sibling's death has changed his perspective on life, as he vowed not to waste precious time on things that don't really matter. He explained: 'We don't know when our last day is and the truth of it is there isn't time there isn't time so I'm going to make the most of every single second I have left. 'I can't say enough when you have been through something that puts life into perspective your whole outlook changes. None of this stuff matters but you can wrestle what is really important back before it is too late so that is what I'm doing now.' It has been a turbulent time for Ore as he dealt with the loss of Lola in April and his split from wife Portia in October last year. Ore and Portia, who share two young children Roman, seven, and Genie, four, wed in 2015 - five years after they met at Loughborough university in 2010. Announcing the split, Ore wrote: 'Hi guys. Portia and I are sad to announce that we separated earlier this year. We're so grateful for all the love you've shared with us both over the years. 'And we want to thank you in advance for respecting our privacy as we navigated this difficult transition. We will be making no further comment. Be kind, always.' 'I can't say enough when you have been through something that puts life into perspective your whole outlook changes. None of this stuff matters but you can wrestle what is really important back before it is too late so that is what I'm doing now' Speaking to John, Ore also touched on the breakdown of his marriage and how the changes in his life has lead him to rediscovering his faith. When asked about the changes in his made in his search to find purpose, Ore shared: 'Everything. Carte Blanche. I don't really recognise anything that went before now. 'There was a big family change. My wife and I split up 12 months ago and the life before that and the life that I've grown into are just completely they are entirely different. There are no similarities whatsoever other than me in body and I guess I found myself going I have to find a way out of this and it was definitely painful it was definitely confusing and I found myself wanting to learn more. 'I've been doing therapy since 2023 trying to uncover this stuff and with that just reading listening seeking knowledge and you get to a point where you think you know it all and I was like I need to know more. I got back in touch with my faith my Christianity and I spent many years post Strictly Come Dancing. 'I wasn't the best Christian but I'd been in touch with my faith up until Strictly Come Dancing. I used to pray every Friday before Saturday just to put my best foot forward and I couldn't wait to deliver a performance on the Saturday night. 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'I was going to look after the family we were going to start a family it was all on me and that level of control started building and building to a point where you think you're in charge of your life and destiny. 'You think you're in charge of all of these people that you're connected to but when things start, well do what life does, and you're not in control of it. it is going to start sending you into a spiral that you just cannot get around. 'And I think there was a point post covid where the authentic me started screaming out was just so suppressed and so suffocated and so kind of terrified and I had no idea what was going on. 'My life was going up in smoke in front of my eyes and I didn't know what to do and as as doors started shutting around me, and the one door that was never closed was the Church. And it started again from there.'