Daniel Radcliff – aka Harry Potter – gave “Knebworth Hall” a nice mention on BBC Radio Two, whilst promoting the final two-part film in that series. He remembered promoting the very first film here, when he was only 11-years old. Warner Brothers filled the House with all-things-Potter and flew in journalists from all around the world to interview the stars. The three children, exploring during a break, opened our kitchen door to be confronted by our large Great Dane – and reacted in very much the same they do in the film to the large three-headed dog monster! It is pleasing that Daniel remembers his time here – his co-star Rupert Grint has more reason to. Rupert is from Watton-at-Stone and, during his childhood, was often seen enjoying visits to the Park and Adventure Playground with his family.
Colin Firth, meanwhile – whose new film “The King’s Speech” opens on 7th January (look out for interiors of Balmoral looking strangely like Knebworth House!) – has a more clandestine childhood memory of Knebworth Park. He confesses that the last time he was here, was to climb over the fence into the 1979 Led Zeppelin concert! There were no Great Danes at that time to chase out actors.
Very best wishes for 2011,
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com