J. K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling, (nee Joanne Rowling, later Joanne Murray) (b. 1965), was the author of the very successful Harry Potter series of novels, publishing seven volumes between 1997 and 2007. Her books were also adapted as a successful series of movies.

The Doctor and Martha Jones were fans of the Potter books, and the Doctor admitted to crying after reading the final volume, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Later, when Potter's spell "expelliarmus" was given life in order to help William Shakespeare defeat the Carrionites, the Doctor exclaimed, "Good old, J.K.!" (DW: The Shakespeare Code)

Behind the Scenes

• In 2005 Russell T Davies asked Rowling to write for Doctor Who, she said she was "was amused by the suggestion but simply doesn't have the time." She was writing the sixth Harry Potter novel at the time.

• In his 2008 autobiography, A Writer's Tale, Davies reveals that he considered basing the 2008 Christmas special around a guest appearance by Rowling.

Footnotes