The BAFTA nominated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second film adaptation in the Harry Potter series based on the novels by J.K. Rowling and was the last film to feature Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore. In the opening scenes Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is warned by Dobby (voice of Toby Jones), the house elf, not to return to Hogwarts as there were dangerous plots against him. Naturally Harry ignores the warnings, returns and finds the school plagued by mysterious attacks and cases of petrification, plus he begins hearing strange voices. Production for the film began just three days after the release of the first in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone as it is also known). Allegedly Hugh Grant was asked to play Gilderoy Lockhart but was unable to due to scheduling conflicts; the role was subsequently offered to Kenneth Branagh. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets follows the plot in the book, although some areas were condensed and a few minor alterations/deviations made to aid dramatisation. It proved to be a box office success breaking a number of records and found its way into the Guinness Book of Records in 2003 for ‘Most Theatres Shown in on Opening Night’ with over 2,000 cinemas showing it in the US at exactly the same time.

Release / Airing: 15/11/2002