Strictly fans stunned after spotting Harry Potter star in the audience

21 October 2023 , 18:40

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Strictly fans stunned after spotting Harry Potter star in the audience

Strictly Come Dancing fans were stunned on Saturday night to see Argus Filch from the Harry Potter film series sitting among the audience.

Fans tuning in to the long-running BBC dance show to watch the 2023 contestants dance for survival in week five were thrilled to see a Hollywood star in the audience. David Bradley, who played cantankerous caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film series, had taken a seat to watch the show to support his friend Nigel Harman, 50.

The 81-year-old actor - who also played Walder Frey in the HBO series Game of Thrones and Ray Johnson in the Netflix series After Life - looked thrilled to be in the crowd. He sat with a smile on his face as he watched Nigel perform a Foxtrot to the sound of I Just Want to Make Love to You by Etta James.

David Bradley was on hand to support Nigel Harman (BBC)

And fans tuning in to Strictly could not believe their eyes when they saw the veteran actor taking part in the night of dance action. Many flooded social media with comments about the surprise Hollywood attendee.

One fan wrote on X: “Was that Filch / Walder Frey in the #Strictly audience” alongside some crying-with-laughter emojis. While another questioned: “Why is filch in the audience? #strictly."

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Some fans felt that David’s unexpected inclusion in the episode had made the entire night. One wrote on X: “Seeing Argus Filch in the audience at Strictly has made me smile the most I’ve smiled in a week... It’s the simple things.” And another wrote: "Didn't expect to see filch on #strictly."

Nigel impressed both fans and the judges (BBC)

Some seemed unsure if it really was the Harry Potter actor, with one writing: "Thought that was the guy who played Filch!!" While a further fan commented: "Pretty sure I just saw filch in the audience? #StrictlyCome Dancing."

For fans wondering how David and Nigel know each other, one clarified online, writing: "David Bradley and Nigel Harman in The Caretaker together at the Crucible in 2006 of course."

A fan has started a petition to get the Harry Potter star on the show as a contestant next year. They tweeted: "Love seeing David Bradley in the #Strictly audience. Sign him up for next year! #StrictlyComeDancing." And another wrote: "Thanks Twitter for confirming that yes that was David Bradley I saw in the #strictly audience."

Nigel and his dance partner Katya Jones were praised for their Foxtrot, with head judge Shirley Ballas claiming it would not look out of place on a West End stage. However, she did point to Nigel’s nerves saying: “You have to channel your mind… just imagine you’re in a practice hall.”

Judge Anton Du Beke also criticised the footwork, saying Nigel went a “bit wrong”, before adding there was “so much to like, keep going like that”. The pair received a total score of 29 points from the judges.

Mirror.co.uk