HBO pulls Harry Potter child stars from Oxford Street Christmas lights switch-on amid fears of trans-rights protests

The HBO Harry Potter series is also tied to the UK's largest official Harry Potter flagship store, opening on Oxford Street on 4 November.

Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton — the new Harry, Ron and Hermione — will not appear at the Oxford Street switch-on on November 9 after HBO consulted the Metropolitan Police and other stakeholders about disorder risks linked to trans-rights groups. The studio's official explanation pointed to filming commitments and school schedules, though safety concerns are reported to have been the real driver.

A Good Law Project petition calling on Sadiq Khan to scrap the themed lights altogether has gathered more than 10,000 signatures.

The withdrawal follows disruption by trans-rights activists at the red carpet of a 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' gala night.

JK Rowling last month published a lengthy essay doubling down on her gender-critical views, calling trans activism 'elitist'.

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