Baby joy for Potter author March 24, 2003 [ ananova ] reports:

Harry Potter author J K Rowling has given birth to a boy.

The baby - named David Gordon Rowling Murray - was born at the new Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.

Rowling's publicist Nicky Stonehill said: "Both mother and baby are doing well."

Ms Stonehill would not give any further details, but confirmed Rowling and the baby - her second child - had been released from hospital.

Rowling, one of Britain's wealthiest women, already has a daughter, Jessica, from a previous marriage.

The writer split from Portuguese Jorges Arantes shortly after the birth.

Rowling, 37, married Dr Neil Murray at a secret Boxing day ceremony in 2001 at their home in Aberfeldy, Perthshire.

The birth comes just three months before the eagerly awaited fifth instalment of the boy wizard's adventures hits bookshelves.

Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix will be published on June 21.

Rowling to feature on The Simpsons February 28, 2003 [ ananova ] reports:

Homer and his family meet up with the Harry Potter author in a special episode set in London.

Lisa Simpson turns out to be a Potter fan and questions the millionaire.

Sir Ian McKellen also appears in the episode - and is first hit by falling scaffolding, then struck by lightning.

The Simpsons go to see him perform on stage in Macbeth, but bring him bad luck by saying the play's name aloud - a theatrical superstition.

A spokesman for the cult US cartoon told The Sun: "The Simpsons bump into JK Rowling outside a bookshop and they talk all about Harry Potter.

"We're very excited about the episode and rest assured every British cliche will be trotted out to get a laugh."

New Dumbledore Announced February 21, 2003 [ ananova ] reports:

Sir Michael Gambon will play Professor Albus Dumbledore in the next Harry Potter film.

He will replace actor Richard Harris, who died in October, after playing Dumbledore in the first two films.

Gary Oldman, Timothy Spall and The Fast Show star Paul Whitehouse will also join the cast of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which begins shooting next week.

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