BBC Scotland has announced a two-part documentary on the life of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. The series, from Regan Scotland, will trace Rowling's dramatic rise, cultural influence and contested legacy.
From Edinburgh cafés to global phenomenon
The documentary will follow the author's journey from struggling single mother to the creator of Harry Potter, the best-selling book series in history. Episode one charts Rowling's path from a bookish childhood and time spent writing in Edinburgh cafés to unprecedented literary success.
Episode two will follow Rowling as she steps out from behind her creation and becomes an increasingly powerful political voice. Amid the rise of social media and intensifying culture wars, the series will highlight her interventions on Scottish independence, feminism, free speech and, most controversially, gender identity.
Supporters and critics
The documentary will follow Rowling, who has found herself divided from some of the actors and fans who once championed her work in recent years. Admired by supporters as a fearless defender of women's rights and condemned by critics who call her an opponent of trans equality, the series will draw on rare archives, Rowling's own words, and interviews from people who worked closely with her.
Simon Young, the BBC's Head of Commissioning for History, said: “Thirty years after the publication of the first Harry Potter book, there feels like no better time for the BBC to explore one of the towering figures of British literature.
"No cultural history of Britain in the 21st century would be complete without the story of the boy wizard that J.K Rowling created, the publishing and film-making phenomenon that she spawned, or the polarising public figure she has become.”
Commissioning and production
David Harron, Commissioning Editor, BBC Scotland, said: “J.K Rowling is arguably one of the most influential figures in the literary and wider media worlds. Through the extraordinary story of her life and work, this series explores not only the creation of a global phenomenon, but also how Britain's culture has been shaped by significant social and technological changes in recent years.”
James Rogan, Executive Producer, said: "J.K. Rowling has achieved extraordinary literary success, with her influence spanning a generation of fans, crossing into cinema and the online world.
"Rogan Scotland explores her unique story from her early days as a writer to the present moment and how her unflinching personal beliefs have sparked a fraught and divisive dialogue that continues to this day."
The series will be produced for BBC Two, BBC Scotland and iPlayer.
