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.

[jessicak]

Wow she had the Hermione hairstyle back then!!

[teganstar]

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

[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 :)

[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.

[Missmagazinebura]

Happy 20th anniversary of Harry Potter!

[aidansevern]

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

[sheaferguson]

Congratulations Joanne, you've changed countless lives 🤗

[ianmcinally]

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

[timmycakes]

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

[saurabhjauhary]

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

[ashutoshniranjan]

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.. 💐💐❤

[pleatedskirt]

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.

[andym]

Christ there's still scaffolding on that street

[tgazza]

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.

[michaelhope]

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

[louiethemouseful]

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

[BJ-zdor]

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.

[KasunGayantha]

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

[danielstevens]

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 😂