TravelMail joins Emma Watson and Robbie Coltrane for a sneak preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida

 

The biggest opening in Orlando for years, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an attraction based on JK Rowling's novels and subsequent films, will open its doors on June 18th. TravelMail writer Matt Fortune managed to bypass security and spend a day exploring Hogsmeade along with some of the film's stars. Here's his verdict...

After its epic journey from Platform 9 3/4 at London's King Cross, the Hogwarts Express steam train stands proud and imposing, billowing with steam clouds at the entrance gate.
Ahead, the alluring Honey Duke's sweet shop and Dogweed and Deathcap's exotic plant store, replete with shrieking Mandrakes, are just two of several fully operational shops on the eerily authentic, snow-covered streets of Hogsmeade, the fictional setting for JK Rowling's hit novels.

Stars of the Harry Potter films including Robbie Coltrane, Matthew Lewis,  , and Oliver and James Phelps get a sneak peek of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction ahead of the official opening on June 18th

Owls from the local postal service twitter nearby and on a street corner at the far end of town pupils from overseas wizarding schools perform for passing visitors. In the distance, looming large above this enchanting town, is the breathtaking Hogwarts School.

The scenes described above come not from one of Rowling's books but from the moment I was ushered through a locked gate in Universal Studios’ Islands Of Adventure theme park to see the brand new - and keenly awaited - Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction.

Magical:  receives her a wand at the iconic Ollivanders wand shop, while visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort

Instantly it feels as though I've landed inside JK Rowling's mind. Potter fans are going to love it. In fact, so too, will those who haven't even seen one of the films.

'I've basically built a film set,' beams Alan Gilmore, the brain behind the aesthetics of the park and Art Director on several of the films. 'I believe you could film scenes here if you wanted.'
He's right too, the attention to detail is astounding. Exact replicas are common place but in some instances actual props from the films have been used.

The Nimbus 2000, the boy wizard's onetime broomstick, takes pride of place on the rebranded Dragon Challenge ride - formerly Duelling Dragons, and the flying car that featured in the Chamber of Secrets film can also seen. 
Time after time during my sneak peak tour, which was also enjoyed by stars of the films including Emma Watson and Robbie Coltrane, I was left gob-smacked by the level to which the design team have dissected Rowling's books. It is incredibly authentic.

 

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Muggles keep out: The front entrance for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter remains closed...unless you're a Hollywood star

The original remit was to recreate a world in which the young wizard lives, as opposed to a park themed on Potter's adventures. There is no great branding push along the walls and the only image of Daniel Radcliffe's character is found in the Gryffindor Common Room as part of the queue for the signature coaster - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - at Hogwarts school. 

Wizard! TravelMail's Matt Fortune enjoyed a swig of butterbeer and the chance to wander around Hogsmeade ahead of the official opening on June 18th

In Zonko's joke shop, visitors can purchase a variety of typically British toys as well as the majority of comedy goods which appear in the films and books. A personal favourite were the sticky trainers which, it is suggested, allow you to walk up walls and were first seen in the Half-Blood Prince at the family-run Weasley Wizard Wheezes.

Honey Duke's sweet shop next door has made the bold commitment to reproduce Bertie Botts' Every Flavour Beans (all except vomit and snot...thankfully) as well as bringing to the US the very British humbug and lemon drop-style confectionery.
I did, though, question the lack of traditional stalls in the Wizarding World. The games and fairground attractions so often found in thoroughfares of other theme parks are nowhere to be seen.The answer? It wasn't in the book, so it isn't here.

However, store staff are as engaging as any I've seen anywhere, to the extent that they become the experience. In Ollivander's Wand Shop, the interactive performance given by Mr Ollivander himself was superb. Like the films, the room was small and intimate, stocked as high as young eyes can see with thousands of multi-coloured dust-covered boxes.

Almost real: 3D holograms of the main stars make queuing for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - still firmly under wraps - more fun

Picking me out from our group, the eccentrically dressed gentleman led me through a series of magical mishaps in a bid to find the wand to which I was best suited. The performance was greeted with applause by the adults in the room; one can only imagine what the reaction will be from children.

This is a theme park though and after my encounter, I was led through to a merchandise store where wands (about $25) and other goods could be purchased.

The creative team have avoided temptation to plonk a till in the middle of the Wizarding World and churn out fast food. Instead guests are invited into the charmingly decked-out Three Broomsticks Hall where once again the authenticity is never compromised.

Guests can pass through Dumbledore's office, an exact replica of the one seen in the films

Head chef Stephen Jayson, who has worked for Universal Orlando Resort since the park's opening 20 years ago called the entire experience, from menu testing to final product, the most exciting and rewarding of his time there.
Classic English dishes - all of which have mention in the books - such as shepherd's pie, fish and chips and Cornish pasties can be bought for around $10, and for families, Jayson and his team have gone the extra yard.

In keeping with a recurring theme of Potter's time at Hogwarts (the traditional first and last days of term), a Great Feast can be purchased for $49 to feed a group of four. The meal of chicken, ribs, corn on the cob and roasted vegetables is ordered at a counter but bought to your table on a silver platter.
Every aspect, including desserts such as strawberry and peanut butter ice-cream, is produced to an exceptionally high standard. It remains to be seen if the kitchen staff can maintain that quality when they have more than just a hungry press pack and a few Hollywood stars to satisfy.

Yesterday Sir Richard Branson flew to Orlando on a plane decorated with a Harry Potter livery. Author JK Rowling has been heavily involved in the attraction, even tasting the famed butterbeer

One thing is for certain, the drinks menu is certain to please. The much-hyped, greatly-protected, and of course JK Rowling-approved butterbeer was delicious, and tasted suitably buttery with hints of shortbread and caramel too. 

Ric Florell, Universal's senior vice president in charge of food and beverages, revealed the decree of secrecy surrounding its creation is such that different components are made at separate locations to avoid more than a select few knowing the exact contents of the non-alcoholic drink. He labelled it 'magic' and after a mug or two, I'm inclined to agree.

Fit to burst, we made our way to the piece de resistance, the signature coaster at Hogwarts school.
A quite mesmerising creation perched at the top of the Wizarding World, it is visible from the motorway en route to the park, and up close is a joy to behold. Good job, too, because queue times at opening are expected to approach the six-hour mark!

Although the ride itself remains a closely guarded secret, we did experience the entertainment put on for those in the queue in the form of moving portraits, again true to the original literature, and four never seen before characters. With Rowling's input, faces have been given to the four founders of the Hogwarts houses. Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor interact to great effect, and laterally more familiar characters do the same in a novel way of explaining ride safety.

The entire Hogwarts queue experience is a captivating one as you stroll through darkened corridors, and even a 'floating candle hall'. The vision of Harry, with his two best friends Ron and Hermione, is the undoubted highlight.
Using the latest technology to all but convince you that the three mega-stars are in the room, 3D holograms encourage you to continue on the journey, following the trio on a special adventure and, ultimately, to the ride. Alas, the three young wizards put on invisible cloaks and disappear, the doors of the main attraction still firmly shut for now.
Back outside, the last of the three coasters, the Flight of the Hippogryph, is the most child friendly and we enjoy a ride.

Heading for the Hogsmeade exits, and by now wearing a smile as broad as that of art director Gilmore, I can't help but feel bowled over. In one afternoon I have been thrown back to my first day in a big city - kicking my feet, ambling slowly down the streets, soaking up every drop of previously unseen wonder.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is exactly that, an eye-opening new experience, unrivalled anywhere. Those who question the value of magic may think differently after a visit.

Travel facts

Virgin Holidays offer seven-night stays in Orlando including flights from London Gatwick, accommodation at the 4V+ Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Resort Orlando (room-only) and car hire from £989 per person.
Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing a standard room, price includes taxes and fuel surcharges and are based on departures on 13th Jun 2010.
When customers buy Universal Park tickets with Virgin Holidays they can take advantage of: early park admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (begins 30 minutes prior to Universal’s Islands of Adventure regular scheduled park opening); escorted early entrance to the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to enjoy complimentary breakfast refreshments; a free gift (per person) and free general admission parking at Universal Orlando for that day.

 

Kelly Brook and Prince Charles: The two faces of Cartier Polo

It was an ultra-posh occasion, so she thought it best to wear gloves.
But since the day promised to be ultra-hot as well, Kelly Brook decided to leave something else bare.
The model-turned-actress was displaying a serious expanse of thigh at the Cartier International Polo yesterday.

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The Prince and I: Kelly Brook dazzled in a floral frock while and Prince Charles channeled James Bond in a cream summer jacket at the Cartier International Polo yesterday

In her tiny jumpsuit, accessorised with a pair of beige Christian Louboutin heels, she teetered around the lawn at Windsor Great Park.


Miss Brook, 28, was among the 35,000 who turned out for one of the premier events on the social calendar.

Legging it: Kelly takes a load off in the VIP China White tent

Prince Charles was overseeing the event in place of the Queen,  apparently channelling James Bond in a pair of dark glasses and a suave white blazer.
Harry Potter actress , 18, in a demure cream dress by Charles Anastase, was ferried to and from the match in a canopied red golf buggy.

Burlesque star Dita Von Teese, 35, stood out in a peach plunging gown which showed off her startling white skin.

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Here comes Hermione: brought a magic touch to the society polo event

Hogwarts' out for summer: The Harry Potter star soaked up the sunshine

A tanned Natalie Imbruglia posed in a short floral shift dress by Australian designers Paul and Joe.

And Sir Richard Branson's son Sam, briefly returned from explorations in the rainforest, showed off a new hairstyle.
He replaced his previously flowing locks with a shorn mohawk accessorised with a black dagger earring.

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Glamorous: Dita Von Teese and actress Rosamund Pike

Also soaking up the sun were Clive Anderson, newscasters Jennie Bond and Moira Stuart and Cameron Diaz's latest beau, model Paul Sculfor.
In the Cartier tent, much of the three-course meal prepared by celebrity chef Anton Mosimann went untouched as the air conditioning broke down.

VIP: Top Gear star Richard Hammond arrived with his wife Mindy

Natalie Imbruglia (l) and Salman Rushdie, with model Aita Ighodaro (r), also attended the Cartier International Polo event

Many of the celebrities had sought shelter in the marquee, missing out on the polo - and on the streakers.
Three men ran on to the turf during the match between England and Australia, to cheers from the crowd.
Two fled back into the stand but the other sidestepped chasing stewards and hurdled two metal barriers to escape.

Model Caprice Bourret (l), complete with unflattering bikini strap tan marks, and actress Tina Hobley (r) were also on the guest list

Distracting: A polo player learns one of three streakers has stolen the crowd's attention

 

One to watch: My Week with Marilyn actor stars in the new Burberry campaign

Being the first major high-end brand to sign and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, it seems Burberry have a knack for spotting the next big thing.
And now that the British label has unveiled the new campaign for Burberry Prosurm - starring Eddie Redmayne - it will only be a matter of time before the rising star becomes a household name.
The My Week With Marilyn actor was cast alongside model Cara Delevingne for the images shot by Mario Testino.

Check it out: The new Burberry campaign stars Eddie Redmayne and Cara Delevingne

The pair are captured in a playful embrace, wearing the classic trench coat of course.
And it isn't the first time the actor has worked with Burberry. He also posed for the brand in 2008.
The full campaign will officially launch across in the first week of January.
Meanwhile, Eddie, 29, will be filming a large scale film production of Les Miserables and model Cara is set to star in Anna Karenina, currently in production. 

The pair model the Spring Summer 2012 collection for the Burbery Prorsum collection

Eddie has been under the Hollywood radar, appearing mainly in theater productions and televisions series.

Eddie stars alongside Emma Watson, the former face of Burberry, in My Week with Marilyn

He also had minor parts in The Other Boleyn Girl and The Good Shepherd.
Eddie, who also studied at Eton, won the part of Colin Clark in My Week with Marilyn by virtue of his personal life.
Producer David Parfitt said: 'It's a devilishly tricky part to find the right person because Colin went to Eton, studied at Oxford and flew for the RAF.'
Luckily it was a case of art imitating life for the Cambridge graduate, who also studied at Eton.
Eddie said: 'I am a huge fan of (chief creative officer) Christopher Bailey.
'He is a brilliant designer and a brilliant man.
'The fashion world can be a tad intimidating but Christopher remains a kind, grounded gem of a man.
'I have worked with Burberry before and its always a fantastic experience.
'Christopher wanted something playful from the shoot and so Cara and I had a genius couple of days fooling around.
'Hopefully the enjoyment we had is reflected in the campaign.

 

 

 

Fashionistas take a break as Glastonbury hits halfway point

Another perfect day - and the prospect of pop princess Kylie Minogue and rockers Muse on stage tonight - kept spirits high at the Glastonbury festival.
Around 150,000 revellers are anticipating a big show from the headliners tonight, after last night's performance from Gorillaz failed to live up to expectations.
In the VIP area, Pixie Geldof and appeared to have relaxed their bid to be the festival's queen fashionista today with more casual gear.

Dressed down: Kelly Osbourne and Pixie Geldof opted for comfort over style today as Glastonbury reaches its halfway point

Pixie opted for a little black dress, boots and long socks as she kicked about backstage with equally dressed down pal Kelly Osbourne.
Emma, still by the side of her fella George Craig, wore a sleeveless white shirt and cut-off denim shorts.
By comparison, Kate Nash stood out in the crowd with her brightly coloured top. 

Casual look: While male model George Craig is still making an effort, chose a simple shirt and cut-off denim shorts

Apart from Kylie and Muse, Colombian singer Shakira is also on the Pyramid stage as the four-day festival reaches halfway - with the Pet Shop Boys and Editors among those appearing at other venues across the sprawling site.
Searing hot temperatures have seen bare chests and bikinis replacing raincoats and rubber boots, and medical staff have dealt with an unusual number of heat-related incidents.
'This is my fourth year and the weather is just so much better," said 17-year-old Luka Taraskevics, from Bath. 'I didn't even bother bringing my wellies. If anything may be it's a bit too hot.'

Colour and comfort: Kate Nash wore a riot of colour today, while Alexa Chung decided on a simple denim dress in the brilliant sunshine

Sun safe: Sienna Miller shades herself from the sun in a stylish hat at the festival

But despite the feel good factor as Glastonbury celebrates its 40th birthday, the eagerly-awaited Friday night headline slot failed to impress, and the huge crowd began thinning out before Gorillaz had finished its set.
London rapper Tinchy Stryder kicked off today's programme, making a valiant attempt to reach an audience struggling to shrug off the effects of the night before.
Coco Sumner and veteran Jackson Browne were other acts on today.

Happy and in love: Lily Allen shares a kiss with boyfriend Sam Cooper

On for young and old: Coco Sumner and Jackson Browne both played today

Shakira appears in the evening, followed by Scissor Sisters who are expected to be joined by Minogue.
Muse round off the night, while less famous acts like Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus and The Phenomenal Handclap Band fill stages elsewhere.
Forty years ago, Glastonbury founder and dairy farmer Michael Eavis decided to hold a music event and booked the Kinks for £500 pounds but went for Marc Bolan when they failed to show.

Soldiering on: Despite medical staff treated a record number of heat-related injuries today, most of the crowd have remained in high spirits

That year 1,500 people showed up when the event was known as the "Pilton Pop Festival". They each paid £1 and were given free milk from Eavis's Worthy Farm.
This year the tickets cost £185.
Two men were being questioned today after police stopped a vehicle on the way to the festival carrying drugs with a street value of more than £100,000.
A large quantity of Class C tablets were seized after police stopped the vehicle as it drove south on the M5 near Dursley, Gloucestershire.
It is one of the largest finds of its kind by Gloucestershire Police.
A 23-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, both from Bude in Cornwall, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the supply of drugs.
Police said they were believed to be on their way to Glastonbury.

 

Why DO women visit strip clubs?

Eleven o’clock on a Friday night in Central London. I’m sitting on a velveteen sofa in a cordoned off area of Sophisticats, a lap-dancing club in Marylebone.
A pretty young woman called Zoe is dancing in front of me. She can’t be much older than 21, with platinum blonde hair extensions stretching down to her waist, fake nails and far too much glittery make-up.
Unnervingly, she doesn’t break eye contact. There’s not a hint of awkwardness, as though she’s done this a hundred times before — which, of course, she has. Her electric green G-string has been carefully peeled off. She gives me a wry wink before dangling it inches from my face. I have no idea where to look.

Girls' night out: Singer Rihanna leaves Stringfellows with a friend last week

I’m more than uncomfortable. But unlike Rihanna, who was spotted exiting London’s Stringfellows last week, I’m not here for fun. I’m here to investigate the apparently growing trend of heterosexual women spending their hard-earned wages watching semi-naked girls pole dancing, rather than the more typical pursuits of a meal out or the cinema.
It’s been claimed more women than ever before are frequenting these ‘gentlemen’s clubs’ — some of which have reported a 30 per cent rise in female clientele in a year.

 

We’ve certainly seen a host of female celebrities patronising these venues, from singer Katy Perry, who visited Sapphire in Las Vegas last year for her hen party, to Harry Potter actress  , who celebrated the final premiere of the film series with a visit to a New York club this summer.
Spice Girl Mel B has been seen at the Fantasy Bar in Manchester and, astonishingly, Princess Eugenie was spotted at Sophisticats in London two years ago. So I’m here, at the same club the young royal visited, to find out just what the attraction is.
For the uninitiated, lap-dancing clubs are essentially nightclubs where women are paid to perform stripteases and pole dancing — either on stage or in a private room. They’re not a new invention, having arrived in the UK from the U.S. after World War II.

In a man's world: Katy Perry, left,  and Princess Eugenie have both visited gentlemen's clubs

Traditionally the preserve of men only, the past five years have seen a surge in British women visiting for fun with one chain, Platinum Lace in London claiming women make up a quarter of its membership. Secrets, another chain, hosts regular ladies-only nights, with the most recent earlier this month attracting 150 guests.
While countries such as Iceland have now banned such clubs, they’ve become a regular fixture on Britain’s suburban High Streets, after changes to the 2003 Licensing Act made it easier for venues to get a sex establishment licence. Since 1997, the number of strip clubs has risen ten-fold and three years ago a new club was opening almost every week.
The venues operate much like a nightclub. You pay an entrance fee (normally £15 or so before 11pm, after which prices rise steeply) and, once inside, drinks are eye-wateringly expensive.

LAPPING IT UP

The lap-dance industry has doubled since 2004 to more than 300 clubs across the UK

Customers often have to buy ‘a bottle for the table’, with a bottle of Smirnoff vodka costing up to £120. Some VIP tables come with their own dancer and have a minimum spend of £300.
Once at your table, you can either watch the main show or pay for a private dance, where for £20 a naked woman performs astride your legs for one song. The client must not touch the dancer, but the dancer can touch the client.
So far, so seedy. So why are so many professional, respectable women spending vast amounts of money at these kind of establishments? Why, when addiction to pornography and strip clubs is the third biggest cause of debt in men, are women falling for it, too? 
Paul Kennedy, director of marketing at Platinum Lace, says the industry is changing. ‘A few years ago, the lap-dance industry was stagnant: the same bankers were going to the same old clubs. So we encouraged female customers and they’ve breathed life into the business. With more girls coming here, it’s less of a taboo.’
But is it really possible to make these places acceptable to women, when many feel their very existence depends on exploiting vulnerable women who are desperate for money?
I visit Platinum Lace in Central London on a Thursday night, just after 10pm, and the club is already buzzing. Inside, I find about 40 men to every five female clients, including a couple of mixed groups. The club’s main area is big enough to seat about 100 people. Black chairs cluster around circular tables facing one of two small stages at either end of the room, which are lit up like a theatre show with a pole reaching up to the ceiling.

Strip tease: Some women are also paying for private dances for themselves or their boyfriends

Wrapped around each is a pouting dancer flicking her hair and arching her back in vertiginous heels. In the 15 VIP rooms located down side corridors, girls take men for private lap dances.
The owners have tried to make the decor feel glamorous, but there’s no way to mask the seedy nature of what goes on in here; women take their clothes off for money and no amount of gold gilt frames, crystal chandeliers and glittery disco balls can change that.
I ask some of the other women why they’re here. Sam, 32, an events manager from North London, says: ‘I go to a strip club every month with a few female friends and sometimes a male friend or boyfriend.
‘We know we’ll be able to sit down, get a table and won’t be chatted up by guys like in a normal clubs. The atmosphere is relaxed and quieter than some pubs or clubs.’
To me, this is a ludicrous excuse. There are hordes of venues across the country where even the most stunning women can have a night out without being pestered. And if you’re seeking a quiet, relaxed night why visit a strip club?
And if it’s one thing for a woman to come to this type of club, surely it’s quite another for them to pay for a private session?

'Our most loyal customers are women in their 40s - it's their naughty secret'

‘I buy the odd dance,’ says Amber, 23, a hairdresser from Hull. ‘But it’s mainly for Andy, my boyfriend, who likes to watch. He finds it sexier coming here with me than with the lads.’
As we chat, it becomes clear her motive for coming is to please her boyfriend and stop him visiting with a group of testosterone-fuelled guys.
Dr Teela Sanders, a sociology professor from Leeds University, specialises in the UK sex industry and has just finished the biggest-ever research project on lap dancing in the UK. She found women enjoyed how well strip clubs were run.
‘Security is much stricter than normal pubs and clubs. Violence is rare and women find the atmosphere to be more safe and relaxed — men aren’t looking to them for sexual titillation.’
She found couples were using strip clubs to spice up their relationship, while other attendees were there to prove they are liberal or to fulfil a personal fantasy.
The next night I visit, For Your Eyes Only, is in the City and is popular with bankers. It’s a more masculine club, attracting an older clientele. Manager Tony Osborne tells me two of his most loyal regulars are women in their late 40s — one a barrister — both living at upmarket addresses in Mayfair.
‘They come in, order a bottle or two of good wine and spend money on a couple of dances. They’re here to let their hair down. It’s their naughty little secret.’
However, not every woman here is having the time of her life.
I meet Karen, 23, from Glasgow, visiting a strip club for the first time. She’d been persuaded to go by a man she found attractive. ‘I’ve spent £100 on a bottle of vodka,’ she winces. ‘It’s not what I expected and it’s not my idea of sexy.’
Unsurprisingly, the women who dance at these establishments aren’t pleased with the sudden female influx either.
Summer, 23, who works at Spearmint Rhino, says the women clientele change the atmosphere. ‘They constantly look down on us and snigger,’ she tells me.

Supporting sexism: When women visit strip clubs, we send out a powerful signal that we not only condone, but actively encourage, our sexual subjugation

A few clubs are sticking to the mantra that a ‘gentleman’s club’ is for gentlemen only. Stringfellows is one.
Peter Stringfellow opened his Covent Garden club in 1980 and has been in the business for almost 50 years. He often turns away groups of ladies in a bid to maintain a high level of ‘affluent, corporate male’ customer.
But he will make exceptions. Last week, there was Rihanna and, in the past, he has hosted Kelly Osborne and Trudie Styler (who attended with Sting).
‘Men are inhibited when women come in. They can’t relax and won’t spend money,’ he tells me. ‘Women come here under sufferance, brought by husbands or partners. My advice to them is, have a look around the club, then go home. This is a male form of entertainment.’
He has a point. These clubs pander to the crassest kind of male fantasy. The fake hair, breasts and 5in platforms are miles away from what a real woman looks or acts like.
Fans may say it’s all just a bit of fun. But, in fact, the whole industry promotes a distasteful male-female dynamic and the image of a woman as a souped-up sex toy is one which can trickle into everyday life.
Take Imogen, a 30-year-old from Swansea, who I meet in one of the clubs. She’s worried about the effect coming here has had on her partner.
‘His image of what’s sexy has been distorted,’ she says. ‘He now really wants to push the boundaries in the bedroom and asks for things I feel uncomfortable doing. There’s pressure, as he feels let down when I say “no”. Places like these are putting his head in the clouds.’

NON-MEAT MARKET

Casa Diablo in Oregon is the world’s only vegan strip club, serving dairy-free chilli cheese fries alongside lap dances

So why is she here if it’s such a bad idea? She shrugs and blames curiosity.
Anna van Heeswijk, of feminist group Object, refuses to believe stripping empowers women by celebrating the female form and allowing girls to make money.
‘Lap-dancing clubs are based on sexist ideas that have no place in a society in which women are fighting to be treated as equals, not as sex objects. This is a last attempt by the industry to hold on to a facade of respectability, which is rapidly being exposed for the illusion it is.’
After visiting four strip clubs in three nights, the industry has left me feeling hollow. The atmosphere is mechanical and depressing, and the clubs feel like livestock auctions. The dancers are there for money — and money alone.
Understandably, they all use fake names and are acting from the moment they walk through the door, while the men simply stare and whisper.
When women visit strip clubs, we send out a powerful signal that we not only condone, but actively encourage, our sexual subjugation. The further we pull lap dancing into the mainstream, the further we lose sight of the moral issues it raises.
As Anna van Heeswijk says: ‘If more women start visiting lap-dancing clubs, then the industry will have won. Now’s the time to decide what kind of society we want.’

 

Look away Emma Watson! Diana Vickers is dating your indie rocker ex boyfriend George Craig

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He started dating after modelling with her in a Burberry shoot and now George Craig has moved on to Diana Vickers.

After a brief romance with the Harry Potter actress last year, the model and frontman of indie band One Night Only seems to have found love with another blonde.

The 20-year-old rocker accompanied the former X Factor contestant to the Bernard Weatherill Charity Cup polo match at Beaufort Polo Club yesterday.

Young love: Former X Factor contestant Diana Vickers is dating One Night Only frontman George Craig

And the two singers looked perfectly paired as their long locks were blowing in the breeze as they shared a kiss.

They were in the company of high profile guests such as Prince Harry and Zara Phillips at the polo match in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

 

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Vickers, 19, was appropriately dressed in a little purple and beige dress by Krystof Strozyna and nude heels, while her beau wore forest green trousers, a white shirt and blue blazer.

The couple couldn’t keep their hands off each other and kissed and held hands at the match.

Kiss at the polo: The young couple were all over each other at the Bernard Weatherill Charity Club polo match at Beaufort Polo Club

Soaking up the sun: Diana and George sat in the sunshine and relaxed in Gloucestershire

The match helped raise money for the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund and the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign.

And when the My Wicked Heart singer wasn’t getting cosy with Craig, she posed with Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding.

Sarah was wearing nude heels similar to Diana’s and a pale yellow summer dress.

Emma was dating George last summer and they attended Glastonbury Music Festival together as a couple.

The ex files: dated George last summer after becoming friends while modelling for Burberry - seen here for the Spring/Summer 2010 campaign

Polo pals: Diana Vickers also spent time with Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding at the polo match

Watson said of him last June: ‘We’ve been friends since the Burberry shoot. And when I was in the states, George was taking me through a lot of his music as he was recording it.

‘I couldn’t believe [how good the music was]. I’m a big fan. Everything he did was amazing.’

Windy day: Diana Vickers clung onto her new boyfriend as a cool breeze set in

The 21-year-old even starred in his Say You Don’t Want It music video, which was released last June when they were dating.

So perhaps a collaboration between the North Yorkshire band and Diana Vickers could be expected later this year?

Watch Emma Watson in One Night Only's Say You Don't Want It video below:

 

 

Body talk: Emma Watson has the measure of Dustin Hoffman

 

It’s clear from this pose that Hogwarts School forgot to include red carpet wizardry on their curriculum, because rule number one bans ex-child stars from looking taller, more confident and higher in status than any A-list legends that they have been working with.

 might be tilting her head in towards Dustin Hoffman’s shoulder and bending in with one knee in a polite bid to make him look a tad less, well…bonsai, but that parental-looking arm around his shoulder is doing all the damage, being higher than the one he has around her shoulder, proving that it’s an easier reach for her than it is for him.

Emma’s perfect, tooth-wielding smile and sideways glance are pure Hollywood, showing that she has thrown off her teen stage faster than Daniel Radcliffe shed his kecks for Equus.

It also suggests to the cameras that Dustin is a real sweetie and not at all daunting to work with. And Dustin smiling happily in response, with one hand shoved casually in his pocket, confirms that his sense of humour and lack of vanity are both intact.

 

'I'm the worst in my acting class' admits Hollywood's highest paid actress Emma Watson

Their hair may be more expensively styled and their outfits more flamboyant. But their beaming smiles are much the same.
As Rupert Grint, and Daniel Radcliffe posed at the launch of the sixth film, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, they must have been reflecting on their nine years in the spotlight.

Nine years on: Rupert Grint,   and Daniel Radcliffe at a photoshoot for Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince in London today

Plucked from obscurity in 2000, they beat more than 40,000 applicants to their roles. In the intervening years they have amassed more than £45million between them.
With filming on the last installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, almost completed, the trio are now preparing for life after Hogwarts.
According to Hollywood studio Warner Bros, the seventh film is scheduled to hit cinemas in November, 2010 and the eighth in the summer of 2011.

 

At today's press conference at Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair, director David Yates, who also made the fifth movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, said: 'Our cast are just getting that little bit older now and the hormones are starting to fly and for me it marks a real transition point between our cast as children and our cast as adults.'
Emma, 19, is off to America, where she will study at Columbia University.
She has talked of becoming an 'anonymous' student and has registered under her middle name of Charlotte.

Setting out: The trio pose together in 2000, shortly after being selected to star in Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

But, despite her change in direction, Emma is fast becoming the highest profile of the trio, eclipsing even Harry himself.
She is making strides in putting her role as Hermione behind her, starring in advertising campaigns for Burberry and fronting the covers of numerous glossy fashion magazines.
'I'm very excited and looking forward to a bit of normality for a while, it would be nice,' she said today. 'But that by no means means that by going to university I'm never going to act again.

Growing up: The trio pose together to promote the second film Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets in 2002, then again in 2004 at the launch of Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

'It was nice to be back and to know that this film is, to me, more of a romantic comedy than ever before and that we would have a chance to focus more on that side of things.
'Sometimes I have to bring myself back with Hermione, because she is so innocent and so naive and she really is very vulnerable in this film. She really does get her heart broken by Ron and Lavender and that whole situation.'
Emma says with the end of filming on the series of eight films, she will be saying goodbye to her 'second family' on the Watford set.

Developing their style: The three show their own taste in 2005 as they promote Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, then in 2007 as they launch Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

‘It’s going to sound dramatic, but I feel like it’s going to be my life over as I know it,' she said. 'My whole life has been about Harry Potter and then all of that will shut down and I don’t know what it will be like.
'I go to university in September – I’ll be doing bits and bobs at Christmas, but September feels like my cut-off point, the moment when I’ll really stop.’
Daniel Radcliffe, who turns 20 this month, has chosen to focus on establishing a name for himself as a serious actor, finding acclaim on the stage in high-profile Broadway and West End shows.

The cast: Michael Gambon, Tom Felton, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Bonnie Wright, Jessie Cave and Jim Broadbent

The actor, who stars in the films as Harry Potter, even stripped off for his demanding role in the disturbing Equus.
But he has admitted to having doubts about his future in the acting world.
'Hopefully just keep acting is the plan,' he said today. 'I just want to keep going for as long as I can and I've had a fantastic time with Potter. I will be very sad to leave it.'

Launch: JK Rowling pictured leaving Scotts restaurant in London while Rupert and Emma share a laugh at the press conference

In an interview with this month's Esquire he revealed that despite his success he has fears about the future: 'The thing is, in a few years I'll be 21, 22, and that's when all the guys who've been at drama school will come out.
'They've been learning dance or singing and all that stuff, and I'm going to need to compete with them because I won't have Harry Potter as my safety net any more.'
The final member of the trio, Rupert Grint, also appeared at today's press call, despite only just recovering from a mild bout of swine flu.
The 20-year-old, who plays Harry's best friend Ron Weasley, was equally modest about his prospects.
'It's always at the back of my mind that acting might come to an end for me when Harry Potter finishes. I don't know if I'm good enough to have a long career,' he said.
'I've got a bit of an inferiority complex about my acting. My self-esteem is quite low in that sense.'
Despite Rupert's worries he has just completed filming on Wild Target, in which he stars alongside Bill Nighy as an apprentice hitman. He also starred in the gritty thriller Cherrybomb, in which he played a troubled youth dabbling in sex, drugs and violence.
But, whatever happens to the Harry Potter stars in their future careers, they are financially set up for life - with personal fortunes worth tens of millions of pounds.
At 20 years old, Radcliffe is worth £30million, while Ms Watson has banked more than £10million. Grint, also 20, has picked up £5million. The movies, based on JK Rowling's books, have raked in almost £3billion in worldwide box office sales.

Tragic loss: Murdered young actor Rob Knox can be seen (2nd L) in this shot from the new movie

Remembered: Knox, 18, died protecting his brother

*Cast and crew from the film will wear white ribbons on their wrists at the movie's world premiere as a mark of respect to murdered actor Rob Knox.
Knox, 18, played Marcus Belby in the new movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and was stabbed five times outside a bar in Sidcup, Kent, last May - just days after completing the film.
The actor was defending his younger brother when he was attacked by Karl Bishop, who is now serving four life sentences for the murder.
The film has its world premiere in London's Leicester Square tomorrow, and cast members said they would wear white ribbons in memory of Knox.

Radcliffe said Knox's death had hit all of the cast.
'I won't pretend I knew him incredibly well, or was his best friend on set, but I knew him and liked him, and what happened to him was obviously tragic and awful,' he said.
Co-star Bonnie Wright, who plays Ginny Weasley - younger sister of Harry's best friend Ron - said the cast wanted to show solidarity with all victims of knife crime.
'It's going to be quite a traumatic experience for his family, who've been very supportive of him. Obviously tomorrow is going to be quite difficult, going to see him in the film,' she said.
'We wanted to wear as a mark of respect a white ribbon, not only for his life but for other families who have experienced this traumatic crime.'