The magic of the Harry Potter universe is coming to Yorkshire after fans voted in their thousands for a gigantic display of magic wands to travel to the region as part of a UK tour.
A week-long light display will bring nine 15ft tall wands from the fantasy world of witches and wizards to Hull later this year.
Originally, they should have arrived in the city last November as part of the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them launch, but the display was delayed by the pandemic.
Now, a new date has been confirmed creating excitement amongst Harry Potter stands across the region.
They will appear in Hull's Queen Victoria Square from 2 March as part of a week-long light show, accompanied by thrilling music from both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series.
Image: Wizarding World
Created in support of Harry Potter creator and author J K Rowling's Lumos Foundation, which works to reunite children in institutions with their families, the giant wands previously appeared in London in 2019.
Illuminated near St Paul's Cathedral, they lit up the walkway between the historic house of worship and Millennium Bridge every night from 6.45pm.
Now, they'll be coming to Hull as part of a new UK tour that will also take the glowing magic sticks to Birmingham, Stoke on Trent and Reading later this year.
Hull reportedly had more votes than any other city in the UK, and as such as been chosen as the first city for them to visit outside of London.
Image: Wizarding World
The wands' arrival has been timed to coincide with the launch of the newest Fantastic Beasts film, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which will land in cinemas on 8 April.
Towering up high at 15ft tall, they'll be held in place in concrete bases and light up the sky every night to create a magical spectacle that's sure to appeal to fans of all ages.
Polly Cochrane, Country Manager WarnerMedia UK & Ireland, said: “We are delighted that this stunning installation will be touring for the first time next month and the magic will be shared with even more fans.
“Following a nationwide vote, it’s exciting to know that we’re bringing the wands to the biggest Wizarding World fans across the UK as we celebrate the upcoming release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.”
The BBC has announced a brand-new crime drama set to be filmed in Leeds and Hull.
We all love a BBC drama, and luckily for us one is about to be filmed right here in Leeds.
The new drama will be titled Shy & Lola, starring Harley Squires from The Night Manager and Bel Powley from The Diary of A Teenage Girl.
The six-part series has been described as a "dark comedy" about two women caught up in a murder in the criminal underworld.
The plot follows an unassuming pair in a small coastal town in northern England where the pair both realise they have a hidden talent for crime.
The series synopsis states: "As they build an operation that threatens to blow the local bad guys out of the water, opposing futures beckon – using their earnings to fund a fresh start, or becoming the new bosses in town."
The show is based on a popular French TV series and is written by Amanda Coe, an acclaimed English screenwriter and novelist.
Amanda Coe spoke about the announcement: "With such a rich and spiky central relationship at its core, Shy & Lolais a dream of a show to write, full of fun, action and emotion. I can't wait to see our hugely exciting cast and director bring it to life."
Rachelle Constant, executive Producer for Clerkenwell Films, said: "Amanda has written a brilliantly bold series centred on a dynamic female duo, which blends dark comedy with propulsive storytelling.We’re thrilled to have Hayley and Bel as our leads, alongside an exceptional cast and crew."
The new series will begin filming in Leeds and Hull this spring and will air on BBC One and iPlayer and we'll absolutely be tuning in.
Turnstile to play their only UK headline show this year at Halifax Piece Hall
Clementine Hall
Turnstile will headline the Halifax Piece Hall this summer, their only UK headline show.
The Grammy-winning hardcore group have just announced a very special show at historic venue the Halifax Piece Hall.
As part of the venue's huge summer season, Turnstile will take to the stage on Wednesday 26 August marking a whopping 41 shows at the Piece Hall's calendar so far.
The group pulled huge crowds at Glastonbury festival last year and scooped up two Grammy Awards earlier this month, using their platform to thank fans who "swung in the dark" with them.
Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Trust, says: “2026 will see Turnstile playing at some of the world’s most iconic festivals and then here in Halifax at UK’s most iconic heritage venue.”
“We always aim to deliver for the full spectrum of music lovers in Calderdale and knowing how passionate our rock and metal community is, this gig will be off the scale – truly unmissable!”
Alongside Turnstile, Halifax Piece Hall will welcome the likes of Hollywood Vampires, Paul Weller, Bowling For Soup, Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Empire of the Sun, Sex Pistols, Mcfly, CMAT and Jimmy Eat World this summer. What a season it's going to be.
Baltimore’s hardcore heroes will head to West Yorkshire to play TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall on Wednesday August 26.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 27 February at 10am, and you can get your tickets here.
Find out more about what's going on at the Halifax Piece Hall this summer here.
Georgina Pellant -
9th February 2022 
