Jack Whitehall has revealed how he “tanked” a Harry Potter audition that was set up by his father.
The comedian, 38, hoped to play the boy wizard in the film adaptations of JK Rowling’s book series.
Whitehall attended Tower Park School in Richmond, London, where a casting director came to audition some of the children.
Whitehall’s father, producer and talent agent Michael Whitehall, instead arranged for him to have a one-on-one meeting with the casting director – but it did not go well.
He told Capital Breakfast: “They sent one of the casting directors to the school to audition a load of the kids there and my dad, obviously being in the industry, was like, ‘that is a complete waste of time, no-one has ever been cast from an open audition. I will get you one-on-one time with the casting director.’”
The audition did not go to plan as Whitehall had not read Harry Potter at the time and so was unable to answer any questions about it.
He said: “So, classic nepo parent pulls me out of school, drives me down to London, gets me in front of the casting director.
“Unfortunately, I hadn’t read the book, so I went to this audition and they started asking me loads of questions about the book and Harry Potter, I was trying to wing it and started talking about Orks and stuff.
“They were like, ‘that’s the wrong book, mate,’ and absolutely tanked the audition.”
Whitehall recalled his father’s disappointment when he did not get the role, which went to Daniel Radcliffe.
He said: “I didn’t get it and my dad was bitterly disappointed, having given me this platform and opportunity and I abused it and then from the open casting at the schools, entering through the proper avenues, Emma Watson got cast as Hermione Granger.”
The Potter films grossed a combined £5.7 billion at the global box office.
The book series is being adapted again as an HBO TV show, which is due to premiere on Christmas Day.
The role of Harry Potter will be portrayed by Dominic McLaughlin, while his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger will be played by Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton.
Capital Breakfast airs from 6am to 10am across the UK and on YouTube on weekdays.
