This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/6907855.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
World gears up for Potter release World gears up for Potter release
(about 2 hours later)
Harry Potter fans are eagerly awaiting the midnight launch of the seventh and final book in the wizard series.Harry Potter fans are eagerly awaiting the midnight launch of the seventh and final book in the wizard series.
Fans have been queuing outside a bookshop in London's Piccadilly for three days to be among the first to get a copy of the Deathly Hallows. Devotees have been queuing outside one bookshop in London for three days to be among the first to get their hands on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Author JK Rowling will attend a book signing and read excerpts at the Natural History Museum. Author JK Rowling will read excerpts to 500 fans at midnight and sign books at the Natural History Museum in London.
She has hit out at US newspapers which revealed plot details ahead of the novel's official release. A decade after the first book, Harry Potter has become a global phenomenon with 325 million books already sold.
She said she was "staggered" that papers including the New York Times had printed reviews of the novel. That number will grow as millions of copies of the new novel are snapped up at the weekend.
It described the book as a "monumental, spellbinding epic" and said it ended with a "big-screen, heart-racing, bone-chilling confrontation". This is the biggest Harry Potter party in Europe, so it's worth the wait Laura HalinenHarry Potter fan It is being released simultaneously in 93 countries, with a print run of 12 million in the US alone and more than 2.2 million ordered in advance from internet retailer Amazon.
Rowling finished writing the final book in JanuaryFans in London have been braving heavy rain as they wait for the book to go on sale. Loyal fans will finally reach the climax of the story after 10 years of twists and turns in the life of the young wizard.
Laura Halinen, 23, travelled from Finland to join them outside the Piccadilly branch of Waterstone's. A final confrontation between Harry and his evil nemesis, Lord Voldemort, has been building throughout the series - and Rowling has revealed some characters do not survive.
Fans in London have been braving heavy rain as they wait for the book to go on sale.
JK Rowling finished writing the final book in JanuaryLaura Halinen, 23, travelled from Finland to join them outside the Piccadilly branch of Waterstone's.
"This is the biggest Harry Potter party in Europe, so it's worth the wait," she said."This is the biggest Harry Potter party in Europe, so it's worth the wait," she said.
Chellie Carr, 17, from Okemos, Michigan, said she pestered her mother to bring her to London.Chellie Carr, 17, from Okemos, Michigan, said she pestered her mother to bring her to London.
"For all the other books she said, 'No. It's just a book.' But for this one, she said yes," she said. "For all the other books she said: 'No. It's just a book.' But for this one, she said yes," she said.
Cahina Lewis, who dressed as a witch to mark the occasion, said: "For the last nine or 10 years it's been such a big part of my life.Cahina Lewis, who dressed as a witch to mark the occasion, said: "For the last nine or 10 years it's been such a big part of my life.
Rowling is angry US newspapers broke the book embargo"I've been talking to my friends about Harry Potter theories for so long, and I'm not going to be able to do that anymore. What will I do with my life?" "I've been talking to my friends about Harry Potter theories for so long, and I'm not going to be able to do that anymore. What will I do with my life?"
Children's helpline Childline has asked volunteers to take on extra shifts to cope with a surge of calls from distraught youngsters after the reading the book. Global celebrations
All-night parties and Hogwarts Express-style train trips have been planned elsewhere around the world to celebrate the release.
Staff at stores in Hong Kong will tour the city dressed as wizards, while in Bangladesh, customs offices are continuing to work on a Friday - a holiday in the country - to ensure the novel is delivered on time.
A live band will play and a discussion about the boy wizard will go ahead in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.
Rowling is angry US newspapers broke the book embargoIn New York, a street party will include face-painting, wand-making, fire-eaters and magicians, while in Bangkok, an outdoor movie screen will show all the Potter films throughout the night.
Despite the embargo, some copies have been sent out early by mistake and reviews have appeared in some newspapers.
Rowling said she was "staggered" that papers including the New York Times had printed plot details in reviews.
The paper described the book as a "monumental, spellbinding epic" and said it ended with a "big-screen, heart-racing, bone-chilling confrontation".
Children's helpline Childline has asked volunteers to take on extra shifts to cope with an expected surge of calls from distraught youngsters after the reading the book.
Price war
The expected death of a key character could spark feelings of loss and bereavement among young readers, it has warned.The expected death of a key character could spark feelings of loss and bereavement among young readers, it has warned.
'Devastated' There has also been a price war among UK supermarkets, with Asda's promise to sell it for £5 prompting others to slash their prices.
The cost of the book will vary amongst different retailers. Asda will be sell 500,000 copies for £5, £12.99 below the recommended retail price. Rival Tesco will sell the novel for the same price to anyone who spends £50 in one of its stores. The UK's Royal Mail said it would deliver 600,000 copies on Saturday - one for every 43 households in the country.
Rowling recently admitted she felt "devastated" as she penned the final words to the book.Rowling recently admitted she felt "devastated" as she penned the final words to the book.
Online retailer Amazon.co.uk said it had received 2.2 million pre-orders globally. The book will be released around the world at 0001 BST on Saturday.
It is 10 years since the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was released.
Since then, the books have sold 325 million copies worldwide, been translated into 64 languages and spawned five blockbuster films.