Ben Shephard plays wizard in new Harry Potter film

GMTV’s Ben Shephard has landed a part playing a wizard in the new Harry Potter film.

The 34-year-old TV presenter, who’s made an upcoming ITV1 behind-the-scenes documentary about the new movie, has shot a scene for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which is released on 15 July.

And Ben told TV Times that playing a wizard gave him a chance to fulfil a lifelong ambition to have long hair!

“My parents always insisted I kept my hair short and smart, but in Harry Potter I have long locks and a moustache, which unfortunately was very ticklish,” chuckled Ben.

“I play a wizarding parent at the opening of Weasleys‘ Wizard Wheezes, which is a joke shop run by Ron’s brothers – it was just the most beautiful, stunning and exciting set.”

In ITV’s Behind the Magic documentary Ben gained exclusive access to the set, plus he interviewed the film’s young stars, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger).

And Ben discovered there's a lot of romance in the new movie.

“Considering it’s quite a dark story, there’s tonnes of snogging and romance going on because Harry falls for Ginny and there’s a three-way tug of love between Ron, Hermione and fellow student Lavender Brown,” says Ben.