:00:00. > :00:07.Goodbye to the Greatest - thousands gather for
:00:08. > :00:20.People line the streets of his home city of Louisville
:00:21. > :00:28.They are glad because the world acknowledges the special genius
:00:29. > :00:30.and greatness of Muhammad Ali and his contribution
:00:31. > :00:38.Tonight, a former US president joins actors,
:00:39. > :00:41.sports stars and 15,000 fans at the memorial service.
:00:42. > :00:44.We'll have the latest from the service.
:00:45. > :00:49.Labour's referendum warning: insiders tell the BBC increasing
:00:50. > :00:56.numbers of their supporters want to leave the EU.
:00:57. > :01:00.A specially composed anthem at the start of the celebrations
:01:01. > :01:09.France leave it late to secure victory in their Euro opener and
:01:10. > :01:13.mid-tight security in a nervous Paris.
:01:14. > :01:17.While in Marseille, a second night of clashes involving England fans,
:01:18. > :01:25.And as a play about Harry Potter opens in the West End,
:01:26. > :01:27.his creator insists the wizard still belongs to her,
:01:28. > :01:32.And for seven of those years it was entirely mine
:01:33. > :01:39.and not a living soul knew anything about it.
:01:40. > :01:46.Later... The opening match at the Stade Francais and the rest of the
:01:47. > :02:01.Euro news on the first day of the tournament.
:02:02. > :02:06.A former US President, stars from the world of sport
:02:07. > :02:08.and entertainment, joined tens of thousands of fans this evening
:02:09. > :02:12.to pay their last respects to the man known simply
:02:13. > :02:20.Muhammad Ali's coffin was driven for 19 miles through his home city
:02:21. > :02:22.of Louisville, in Kentucky, where crowds lined the streets.
:02:23. > :02:27.This evening, a public memorial service has been taking place,
:02:28. > :02:29.where Bill Clinton will deliver a eulogy.
:02:30. > :02:33.Our North America editor Jon Sopel reports from Louisville.
:02:34. > :02:40.They came from across the nation and beyond to see the man they called
:02:41. > :02:44.the Louisville capital lip take his final lap. At the funeral parlour
:02:45. > :02:48.his friends were now his pallbearers. The former boxing
:02:49. > :02:57.heavyweight Mike Tyson and actor Will Smith among them. His widow
:02:58. > :03:03.that the family in mourning. His coffin was draped in the cloth that
:03:04. > :03:10.signified his Muslim faith. And then his final journey. With the streets
:03:11. > :03:15.literally echoing to his name. This is where he grew up, the City that
:03:16. > :03:27.was home, where he learned to box and fight the segregation of 1960s
:03:28. > :03:32.America. Today, police officers formed a guard of honour and the
:03:33. > :03:37.people remembered him. Muhammad Ali meant justice to me and he also was
:03:38. > :03:44.a two word explanation for why someone like I could exist. What was
:03:45. > :03:49.he like as a man? He was funny and had a great sense of humour, he
:03:50. > :03:54.would be magic tricks. He left a legacy that will keep going. He is
:03:55. > :04:00.just gone for a short time, he still lives in all of us. Since his death
:04:01. > :04:04.was announced the Muhammad Ali centre has become a makeshift shrine
:04:05. > :04:12.for people to come together. I spoke to the Reverend Jesse Jackson. It is
:04:13. > :04:15.a sad day and a glad day, glad because the world acknowledges the
:04:16. > :04:19.special greatness of Muhammad Ali and his life and times but sad
:04:20. > :04:27.because we'll miss him. We miss him already. His life and legacy and
:04:28. > :04:32.music as it were lives on. A local imam started the service, but this
:04:33. > :04:36.was an occasion that brought all faiths and non-together. And excuse
:04:37. > :04:40.the metaphor, the speakers weren't pulling any punches. He dared to
:04:41. > :04:47.affirm the beauty of blackness, he dared to affirm the power and
:04:48. > :05:00.capacity of African Americans. He dared to love America's most unloved
:05:01. > :05:05.race. And he loved us all. Muhammad indicated that when the end came for
:05:06. > :05:10.him he wanted us to use his life and his death as a teaching moment for
:05:11. > :05:15.young people, for his country, and for the world. Barack Obama could
:05:16. > :05:20.not be here because of his daughter's high school graduation
:05:21. > :05:25.send this video message. It is very rare that a figure captures the
:05:26. > :05:30.imagination of the entire world. While the service was going on,
:05:31. > :05:36.across town at the Louisville TKO gym a new denigration was working at
:05:37. > :05:40.being the next Muhammad Ali. This one was being laid to rest, a
:05:41. > :05:46.defining figure of his age, the genius sportsman, political activist
:05:47. > :05:50.of national significance, cultural icon, total one-off, there was no
:05:51. > :05:57.one quite like Muhammad Ali, as he would have told you himself. That
:05:58. > :06:01.memorial service is till going on and we are due to hear from former
:06:02. > :06:05.President Clinton and the actor and comedian Billy Crystal. It's 50
:06:06. > :06:08.years since he became heavyweight champion of the world and was making
:06:09. > :06:12.waves in the civil rights movement. Speak to the young people on the
:06:13. > :06:20.streets today and they will tell you he is still a role model. The legacy
:06:21. > :06:24.of Muhammad Ali lives on. John so Pollin Louisville, thank you.
:06:25. > :06:27.Senior Labour figures have told the BBC that the party
:06:28. > :06:28.is haemorrhaging support to the Leave campaign
:06:29. > :06:33.The former leader Ed Miliband warned today that the outcome of the vote,
:06:34. > :06:35.in less than a fortnight, is in doubt, and not enough Labour
:06:36. > :06:38.voters realise the party supports staying in the EU.
:06:39. > :06:39.Our deputy political editor John Pienaar reports
:06:40. > :06:53.Labour supporters mocking Boris Johnson
:06:54. > :06:55.for snatching Labour votes for an EU exit.
:06:56. > :06:58.The Shadow Minister trying to get them back was finding no one home.
:06:59. > :07:00.Today's appeal: stick with us, don't follow the leavers.
:07:01. > :07:03.Of course this result is in question and Labour is clear,
:07:04. > :07:06.Labour is united, Labour is for Remain because we think
:07:07. > :07:08.it is better for Labour values, better for social justice,
:07:09. > :07:10.better for when there is a Labour government,
:07:11. > :07:13.to be able to make sure that we build a fairer
:07:14. > :07:16.And here in Labour West Bromwich, the thing that is troubling
:07:17. > :07:20.Celebrated by Labour politicians and disliked
:07:21. > :07:24.Appeal or no appeal, who's listening?
:07:25. > :07:26.Try asking in the high street or on a visit
:07:27. > :07:38.I am tending towards Out due to the immigration.
:07:39. > :07:41.I think a lot of immigrants are coming in too fast for us to cope.
:07:42. > :07:44.What about a lot of immigrants working in the NHS which is helping
:07:45. > :07:48.Well, yes, they are already in position, I'm worried
:07:49. > :07:52.I don't know that we be able to cope with the amount.
:07:53. > :08:02.I think people need to work in partnership with other people.
:08:03. > :08:04.People who are voting Out are voting Out because of immigration
:08:05. > :08:08.Picking the winner in this referendum is anyone's guess,
:08:09. > :08:11.it's a gamble, and Labour is finding it hard just keeping up.
:08:12. > :08:16.Probably a large majority of Labour voters are knowledgeably,
:08:17. > :08:20.And they are voting to leave because the European
:08:21. > :08:29.It's not working for the working classes in this country.
:08:30. > :08:35.In Labour territory, if people don't vote to remain
:08:36. > :08:39.Over a brew, you hear the same thing time and again.
:08:40. > :08:48.Yes, immigration is the main factor for my decision.
:08:49. > :08:51.We do a lot for countries around the world and bailing them
:08:52. > :08:53.out of their problems, when we have homeless people
:08:54. > :09:16.Come here, come almost anywhere deep in Labour territory and you can see
:09:17. > :09:20.why Labour In campaigners are telling me that they're not just
:09:21. > :09:24.Fears of mass migration have grown and a lot of people just
:09:25. > :09:28.And poster slogans about taking back control can sound good
:09:29. > :09:30.if you're feeling overlooked or taken for granted.
:09:31. > :09:33.If Britain votes to leave they'll be saying the next day that a lot
:09:34. > :09:35.of Labour supporters, not all but a lot, just stopped
:09:36. > :09:42.Labour has a problem in its heartland, a senior
:09:43. > :09:46.Labour In source told me that they are very worried.
:09:47. > :09:48.Just now the leavers' message is reaching parts that Labour can't.
:09:49. > :09:51.The Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who's campaigning for the UK
:09:52. > :09:54.to leave the EU, has said he stands by his comments that the sex attacks
:09:55. > :09:56.on dozens of women that happened in Germany,
:09:57. > :09:59.on New Year's Eve, could be repeated in the UK, if levels
:10:00. > :10:03.Mr Farage also responded to the subsequent accusation
:10:04. > :10:05.of racism from the Archbishop of Canterbury, saying,
:10:06. > :10:08."We have good archbishops and bad archbishops."
:10:09. > :10:13.Our political correspondent Carole Walker reports.
:10:14. > :10:15.This report contains some flash photography.
:10:16. > :10:19.He's one of the most high-profile campaigners for Brexit.
:10:20. > :10:21.Though even some on his own side are uncomfortable
:10:22. > :10:25.with the Nigel Farage tone and style.
:10:26. > :10:32.Tonight, just a sip of red wine - before the confrontation at least.
:10:33. > :10:35.No surprise that immigration, the big issue for the Leave
:10:36. > :10:42.The real point about this referendum is who makes the decisions.
:10:43. > :10:44.Do we have the ability to control the numbers that
:10:45. > :10:51.Mr Farage said he wanted to get net migration down below 50,000
:10:52. > :10:55.and he said this was not just about the economics.
:10:56. > :10:57.There is something called quality of life, and that means
:10:58. > :11:00.the ability to get your child into the local primary school.
:11:01. > :11:04.It means being able to get a GP appointment.
:11:05. > :11:09.He was less keen to talk about his controversial warning
:11:10. > :11:20.on LBC of sexual attacks like those in Cologne if we stay in the EU.
:11:21. > :11:22.You did predict Cologne-like sex attacks...
:11:23. > :11:24.I may have done months ago, but I chose in this
:11:25. > :11:26.referendum to try and make it a non-issue.
:11:27. > :11:30.Because there are so many other things for us to talk about.
:11:31. > :11:32.However, is what I said on LBC wrong?
:11:33. > :11:35.But what about the criticism from the Archbishop of Canterbury,
:11:36. > :11:37.who accused him of legitimising racism?
:11:38. > :11:38.We have good archbishops and bad archbishops.
:11:39. > :11:47.Given that he was talking specifically about what had appeared
:11:48. > :11:49.in a Sunday newspaper, he clearly had read
:11:50. > :11:54.a headline and not very careful words that I used.
:11:55. > :11:56.Nigel Farage insisted Britain would be safer outside the EU
:11:57. > :11:58.and dismissed opponents who said his vision
:11:59. > :12:04.None of them go out and meet ordinary people and perhaps
:12:05. > :12:06.in my case occasionally have a pint with them,
:12:07. > :12:09.and let me tell you, my vision is to put this country
:12:10. > :12:13.and the British people first, and for us to divorce ourselves
:12:14. > :12:15.from political union and to re-engage with the rest
:12:16. > :12:19.It is upbeat, it is optimistic, and do you know something,
:12:20. > :12:26.But there's no disguising the upbeat mood in the Leave camp.
:12:27. > :12:30.There have been renewed warnings from Germany
:12:31. > :12:39.The country's Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schauble, said if Britain
:12:40. > :12:42.votes to leave it would also be ejected from the single market
:12:43. > :12:44.and wouldn't be able to access its advantages as Norway
:12:45. > :12:47.Our economics editor Kamal Ahmed is here with me.
:12:48. > :12:51.Michael Gove, a senior figure in the Leave campaign,
:12:52. > :12:55.says he doesn't want to be in the single market anyway.
:12:56. > :13:02.Well, I think it is significant, clearly if Britain left the European
:13:03. > :13:07.Union then Germany would be a very important voice in any
:13:08. > :13:11.renegotiations that took place. I think there is a growing nervousness
:13:12. > :13:16.in other countries in the European Union about the referendum on June
:13:17. > :13:21.23, there will be a poll in the Independent tomorrow which puts
:13:22. > :13:28.Leave ahead by ten points, 55% to 45%. It is only one poll but it
:13:29. > :13:31.shows that this is not a done deal for either side. And I think Europe
:13:32. > :13:36.is approaching this with a bit of carrot and stick. We have had the
:13:37. > :13:40.stick from Wolfgang Schauble's comments that we would have to leave
:13:41. > :13:46.the single market which could damage the British economy. He also worries
:13:47. > :13:53.about copycat referendums which could set off a domino effect.
:13:54. > :13:59.The carrot, this interview with Wolfgang Schauble that we are
:14:00. > :14:02.talking about tonight is in a special addition of Der Spiegel, one
:14:03. > :14:05.of the most important magazines in Germany, sort of a love letter to
:14:06. > :14:10.Britain, saying Britain, don't leave us, please don't go, we need you in
:14:11. > :14:13.the European Union. For the Leave campaign, they really think the
:14:14. > :14:16.single market issue is something of a sideshow, that whatever happens
:14:17. > :14:22.Britain is the second largest economy in Europe, the fifth largest
:14:23. > :14:24.in the world, and we will get a deal where there are no terrorists
:14:25. > :14:29.because Germany, France, other countries in the EU, need to export
:14:30. > :14:34.us. We are an important customer for then and that made the trade deal
:14:35. > :14:38.will be done. How close are those polls? We have heard about the
:14:39. > :14:44.Independent poll. I've been speaking to people close to Lynton Crosby,
:14:45. > :14:47.the Cameron Kourou, who called the 2015 election correctly, a sort of
:14:48. > :14:54.Svengali figure. He apparently thinks it is 50-50 Leave Remain,
:14:55. > :14:58.it's on a knife edge and that nervousness in the German government
:14:59. > :14:59.and the Italian government and British government will continue.
:15:00. > :15:02.Thank you. A National Service of
:15:03. > :15:03.thanksgiving has taken place at St Paul's Cathedral -
:15:04. > :15:06.to mark the Queen's 90th birthday. It's the beginning of three days
:15:07. > :15:09.of events to mark the official birthday celebrations -
:15:10. > :15:11.after the Queen turned 90 in April. The service was attended by members
:15:12. > :15:14.of the Royal family - including the Duke of Edinburgh
:15:15. > :15:16.on his own 95th birthday. Our royal correspondent
:15:17. > :15:25.Nicholas Witchell has more. Between them, they've known 185
:15:26. > :15:30.years of life's experiences. 90 years in the case of the Queen,
:15:31. > :15:35.95 years in the case of the Duke. But it's the long life of a monarch
:15:36. > :15:41.which brings together a congregation within St Paul's Cathedral
:15:42. > :15:44.for a national service of thanksgiving, a moment
:15:45. > :15:46.for gratitude for this For her faithful devotion,
:15:47. > :15:53.dutiful commitment, loving leadership, gentle constancy,
:15:54. > :16:03.royal dignity and kindly humanity. She's been known to tell clergymen
:16:04. > :16:06.not to overdo the praise on occasions like this,
:16:07. > :16:08.but as family members who will follow in her footsteps
:16:09. > :16:12.and politicians whose time on the national stage
:16:13. > :16:15.comes and goes listened, the Archbishop of Canterbury
:16:16. > :16:18.defined a contribution to national life the like of
:16:19. > :16:23.which we will not see again. So we look back on Your Majesty's
:16:24. > :16:26.90 years in the life of our nation with deep wonder
:16:27. > :16:32.and profound gratitude. Through war and hardship,
:16:33. > :16:37.through turmoil and change, Your Majesty, today,
:16:38. > :16:40.we rejoice for the way in which God's loving care has fearfully
:16:41. > :16:45.and wonderfully sustained you. As well as Prince Philip,
:16:46. > :16:50.marking his 95th birthday today. Reflections on the passing
:16:51. > :16:53.of the years, written by one 90-year-old, the Paddington Bear
:16:54. > :16:56.creator Michael Bond, read by another 90-year-old,
:16:57. > :16:59.Sir David Attenborough, featured words used by the Queen's
:17:00. > :17:04.father, George VI, when Britain Truly, if you put your hand
:17:05. > :17:11.into the hand of God, that shall be to you better
:17:12. > :17:16.than light and safer Members of different faith groups
:17:17. > :17:24.joined an act of thanksgiving, a reminder of how Britain has
:17:25. > :17:27.changed during the course One feature though has remained
:17:28. > :17:35.constant, and for that person on this day the congregation sang
:17:36. > :17:39.the national anthem with more The Queen left St Paul's,
:17:40. > :17:50.steadying herself on a specially At 90, a fully engaged head of state
:17:51. > :17:57.on the first of three days marking Nicholas Witchell, BBC News,
:17:58. > :18:09.St Paul's Cathedral. The partner of the former EastEnders
:18:10. > :18:11.actress, Sian Blake, has admitted murdering her
:18:12. > :18:13.and their two children. Arthur Simpson-Kent,
:18:14. > :18:14.who's 49, pleaded guilty when he appeared by video link
:18:15. > :18:17.at the Old Bailey this morning. He was extradited from Ghana
:18:18. > :18:19.in February, having fled Our home affairs correspondent
:18:20. > :18:25.June Kelly reports. He killed his whole family,
:18:26. > :18:28.left the country, and then was arrested in the West African
:18:29. > :18:32.state of Ghana. Today, thousands of miles away
:18:33. > :18:35.from here, Arthur Simpson-Kent came before a British judge and pleaded
:18:36. > :18:41.guilty to a triple murder. He took the lives of his partner,
:18:42. > :18:45.the former EastEnders actress Sian Blake, and their two boys,
:18:46. > :18:50.Zachary, who was eight, on the left, After they were reported missing,
:18:51. > :18:56.police began digging up the garden at the family home in Erith in Kent
:18:57. > :19:01.and found their bodies. By then, Arthur Simpson-Kent
:19:02. > :19:04.was a fugitive and had travelled He'd been here for some weeks
:19:05. > :19:10.when locals realised he was a wanted man, because his picture
:19:11. > :19:15.was circulating on social media. They contacted the police
:19:16. > :19:18.and he was arrested and then Today, Sian Blake's sister said
:19:19. > :19:24.she was relieved that Scotland Yard said Sian's close-knit
:19:25. > :19:31.family had been devastated by the loss of two generations
:19:32. > :19:34.in a completely senseless So six months after he fled
:19:35. > :19:39.the country trying to evade justice, Arthur Simpson-Kent has now pleaded
:19:40. > :19:44.guilty to three counts of murder. He wasn't in court for
:19:45. > :19:46.today's brief hearing. He appeared by video
:19:47. > :19:49.link from prison. He is due to be here in October
:19:50. > :19:52.when he will be sentenced June Kelly, BBC News,
:19:53. > :19:59.at the Old Bailey. The European football championships
:20:00. > :20:01.have kicked off this evening amid unprecedented
:20:02. > :20:04.security in Paris. It's just seven months since
:20:05. > :20:07.the terror attacks in the city. Hosts France beat Romania
:20:08. > :20:09.in the tournament curtain raiser in the capital,
:20:10. > :20:20.where we can join our sports editor, France will be delighted not only
:20:21. > :20:24.with tonight's results, but also to get the tournament safely under way?
:20:25. > :20:28.That's right, there was a real sense of trepidation. You could feel it
:20:29. > :20:33.ahead of tonight's opening match, but that has now given way to one of
:20:34. > :20:34.celebration instead. A perfect start for the hosts, and the winning goal
:20:35. > :20:46.they will never forget. The moment fans looked
:20:47. > :20:49.to sport to help lift a nation. Despite an unprecedented security
:20:50. > :20:53.operation tens of thousands gathering in their fun park at Euro
:20:54. > :20:58.2016 got under way, the message one of resilience. We just try to keep
:20:59. > :21:05.living as before, because we cannot stay at home always. Seven months
:21:06. > :21:09.ago this stadium was targeted by terrorists during a night the
:21:10. > :21:12.country still is coming to terms with. Now the Stade de France played
:21:13. > :21:16.host to the tournament's opening match between the hosts and Romania.
:21:17. > :21:22.We come here to enjoy that game and to be honest I don't think about
:21:23. > :21:28.nothing, about the terrorist men. We need to show that we are not afraid.
:21:29. > :21:36.To the world. We can enjoy the stadium, we can play football and
:21:37. > :21:39.are not afraid about this. The short opening ceremony a defiantly
:21:40. > :21:45.cheerful and colourful affair, celebrating French popular culture.
:21:46. > :21:48.DJ David Guetta orchestrating proceedings which culminated in a
:21:49. > :21:57.spectacular fly-past by the French air force. And after all the
:21:58. > :22:01.fanfare, time for the footballers to take centre stage. This rousing
:22:02. > :22:13.rendition of the national anthem sung as if France wanted the whole
:22:14. > :22:17.world to hear it. Perhaps the emotion got to the hosts, because
:22:18. > :22:22.they started nervously. Lloris preventing Romania from taking an
:22:23. > :22:25.early lead. But France would soon show why they are favourites to win
:22:26. > :22:32.their own competition. They went close. And then Giroud, clinical.
:22:33. > :22:42.This is the opening goal of the tournament, France one up. A chance
:22:43. > :22:47.to equalise from the spot. The lead didn't last long. Evra gave away a
:22:48. > :22:51.penalty, Bogdan Stancu punished the French. Romania back level. But
:22:52. > :22:56.France would not be beaten, with full-time looming a moment of sheer
:22:57. > :23:04.genius from Dimitri Payet. A winning goal worthy of racing such an
:23:05. > :23:07.occasion. The hosts off to the perfect start. But away from the
:23:08. > :23:11.scenes of celebration, a second night of violence on the streets of
:23:12. > :23:18.Marseille. Police again deploying tear gas to disperse England fans,
:23:19. > :23:21.after fresh disturbances. This evening Roy Hodgson's youthful squad
:23:22. > :23:25.arrived in Marseille and took the opportunity to familiarise
:23:26. > :23:29.themselves with the stadium where they play Russia tomorrow. We know
:23:30. > :23:33.what we can do, we know that we have a team that if we perform to the
:23:34. > :23:39.level we think we can perform two, we will make it difficult for any
:23:40. > :23:42.opponent that comes our way. Wales fans meanwhile have been relishing
:23:43. > :23:47.their first appearance in a major championships since the 1958 World
:23:48. > :23:51.Cup. Slovakia their team's opponents tomorrow in Bordeaux. And to
:23:52. > :23:55.complete a weekend to savour for the home nations, Northern Ireland in
:23:56. > :24:01.their first-ever European Championship finals faced Poland in
:24:02. > :24:06.Nice on Sunday. But tonight belongs to France. This is the start they
:24:07. > :24:08.would have dreamt of. Dan Roan, BBC News, Paris.
:24:09. > :24:10.England fans have again been involved with clashes
:24:11. > :24:13.with French police in Marseille for a second night.
:24:14. > :24:15.Fans stayed drinking in the city this evening ahead of England's
:24:16. > :24:20.Matthew Price is in Marseille for us tonight.
:24:21. > :24:27.What more can you tell us? It's a rather strange atmosphere in
:24:28. > :24:29.Marseille this evening. We have had French fans buzzing through this
:24:30. > :24:34.square celebrating their victory, swiftly followed by a little bit of
:24:35. > :24:37.tear gas coming through the air, and that followed by a load of England
:24:38. > :24:42.fans, who were trying to get away from some of the tear gas that riot
:24:43. > :24:46.police had been firing. There have been bottles thrown, about ten
:24:47. > :24:50.minutes ago, right on this very spot a group of lads, 15 or so of them,
:24:51. > :24:54.through a bottle at someone they didn't like. It's largely of course
:24:55. > :24:58.the minority, we always say that, but there are some very drunk people
:24:59. > :25:02.in this town tonight and at times they are facing off against the
:25:03. > :25:07.French police and the French riot police as we know will use tear gas
:25:08. > :25:10.to disperse crowds. So isolated pockets of tension. The restaurants
:25:11. > :25:14.and cafes around here, some of them closing because they are worried
:25:15. > :25:18.about more violence. It is isolated but as I say, it is tens and it's
:25:19. > :25:21.quite nasty in places and I think I've heard another round of tear gas
:25:22. > :25:24.being fired a few streets away. Matthew in Marseille, thanks.
:25:25. > :25:27.She's one of the most successful writers in the world.
:25:28. > :25:30.JK Rowling's Harry Potter books have sold hundreds of millions of copies,
:25:31. > :25:32.and spawned a series of blockbuster movies.
:25:33. > :25:36.Now, she's preparing for the latest Potter instalment - a two-part play.
:25:37. > :25:39.It's called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
:25:40. > :25:46.She's been speaking to our arts editor, Will Gompertz.
:25:47. > :25:49.Harry Potter is back - on stage this time.
:25:50. > :25:51.He's 19 years older, married with kids, still hanging out
:25:52. > :25:57.with Ron and Hermione and facing some familiar and unfamiliar foes.
:25:58. > :26:00.Just so we're clear, I mean obviously you're the writer,
:26:01. > :26:04.Jack, you're the director, John, and you're the creator, Jo,
:26:05. > :26:12.How did that actually work in practice?
:26:13. > :26:18.The three of us talked and discussed and cogitated the story
:26:19. > :26:21.through discussions, which Jack then wrote down,
:26:22. > :26:25.and we didn't start writing the play as such, or Jack didn't,
:26:26. > :26:28.until we'd agreed on what that story was.
:26:29. > :26:33.And then I tried to write a script and then...
:26:34. > :26:36.Well, you did write a script, you're very self-deprecating.
:26:37. > :26:43.What's been your overriding concerns?
:26:44. > :26:47.I don't think I realised how anxious I was, to tell
:26:48. > :26:53.I mean, this is putting me back ten years.
:26:54. > :26:58.Potter attracted a lot of madness and a lot of hype, and going back
:26:59. > :27:02.into that place I realised on Wednesday morning how anxious
:27:03. > :27:08.that had made me, because I knew how much expectation there would be
:27:09. > :27:13.Is there a sense then in your own mind -
:27:14. > :27:17.philosophically more than literally - that you don't own Potter anymore,
:27:18. > :27:22.I wouldn't go that far, Will!
:27:23. > :27:27.Because you know, that would be, I'm deadly serious, that would be
:27:28. > :27:29.to disavow what that world was to me.
:27:30. > :27:33.17 years that world was mine and for seven of those years
:27:34. > :27:35.it was entirely mine, not a living soul knew anything
:27:36. > :27:40.about it, and I can't just uproot that from all the personal
:27:41. > :27:42.experiences that inform those stories and say I'm
:27:43. > :27:45.throwing it away now - and that's how that would feel.
:27:46. > :27:49.And as a fan you want it to be her world, not our world,
:27:50. > :27:53.It's her world we've been allowed to play in.
:27:54. > :27:57.In a way, John, Jack and Jo had it easy, because they were dealing
:27:58. > :28:03.You've got to make their imagination a reality on stage.
:28:04. > :28:10.It's not all kind of glitter guns and cannons.
:28:11. > :28:13.Actually a lot of it is very, very, very simple magic
:28:14. > :28:22.So touch wood there's not a huge amount really that could go wrong.
:28:23. > :28:24.There's not much that could go wrong!
:28:25. > :28:27.Yeah, I'm pressing my leg against the wooden
:28:28. > :28:34.But what I mean by that, we've done it very carefully,
:28:35. > :28:36.so it's not a kind of wing and a prayer.
:28:37. > :28:41.Can you imagine ever creating another world which has
:28:42. > :28:44.such a profound impact as the Potter world?
:28:45. > :28:53.I feel as though I did that and I love it.
:28:54. > :28:57.It takes up so much mental space, it takes up a lot of space
:28:58. > :29:12.I think I would be on a fool's errand to try to do that again.
:29:13. > :29:16.Now on BBC One, it's time for the news where you are.