Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix On Audio

On the 22nd of September, BBC Audiobooks releases the long-awaited Stephen Fry recording of the new Harry Potter book.

Stephen’s award-winning, and much-praised, readings of the Harry Potter books have made the titles into the UK’s best selling audio books of all time - the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on audio is set to take number of units sold in the UK to well over the million mark.

Stephen Fry’s 79 different voices...

Stephen Fry, or the ‘the Voice of Harry Potter’ as he is now regarded, was very much the actor of choice when it came to deciding whose voice would be best to take listeners to Harry heaven. J.K. Rowling was keen to have him read the books, and also asked that he be the person to interview her at her only public event for the release of the new book at the Albert Hall in June of this year.

For the recording of the latest Harry Potter novel Stephen’s vocal repertoire is fully exhausted as he is required to do a staggering 79 nine different voices. He is best known for his sharp wit and humour, and, had circumstances been different, would surely have entered Hogwarts as a wise old Ravenclaw, should the Hogwarts Sorting Hat have ever sorted him...

Harry Potter cassettes and CDs, it seems, have also become the must-have accessory of the rich and famous - well-known fans of Harry Potter audio books include Jonathan Ross, David Blunkett, the Appleton sisters (who sing about listening to HP on audio on their current album), right through to Liam from the Prodigy.

Audiobooks, whether on tape or CD, are the cool and trendy way to entice kids to keep reading through the holiday period.

Prue Goodwin, from the National Centre for Language and Literacy, says, "Listening to good books read aloud opens up the world of literature to children who may find books daunting. Many a reluctant reader has turned to the book for a repeat experience of a great story".

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX read by Stephen Fry (£65 on cassette, £75 on CD) is released on the cover to cover imprint by BBC Audiobooks ON SEPTEMBER 22ND.