Harry Potter child actor reveals real reaction to Daniel Radcliffe gesture ahead of HBO role: 'Going mad!'

The Scottish teenager was on a train journey home when his father discreetly handed him the letter. McLaughlin recalled how the surprise unfolded.

"It was insane," he told the programme. "My Dad tapped me on the train and just gave me this letter."

Only after reading the message did McLaughlin realise who had written it.

Reaching the bottom of the page, he discovered the simple signature that left him trying to contain his excitement in front of fellow passengers.

"I read it and then I got to the bottom, and it said, 'Dan R.' I was going mad, but I had to [keep cool]. I was on the train," he said.

The note serves as a symbolic gesture from Mr Radcliffe, who portrayed the boy wizard across eight films and has publicly expressed support for his successor.

In November, Mr Radcliffe revealed on Good Morning America he had written to Mr McLaughlin to offer encouragement without overshadowing him.

"I just wanted to write to him to say, 'I hope you have the best time, and an even better time than I did — I had a great time, but I hope you have an even better time,'" Mr Radcliffe said.

Rupert Grint has also reached out to the new cast, confirming he had written to Alastair Stout, who will play Ron Weasley.

Mr Radcliffe has spoken fondly about seeing a new generation take on the roles that shaped his childhood.

"I just see these pictures of him and the other kids and I just want to hug them," he said last month. "They just seem so young… I hope they're having a great time."

His decision to contact Mr McLaughlin reflects his desire to be supportive whilst respecting boundaries, emphasising that he does not want to interfere as the young cast embark on their own journey.

The correspondence marks a touching link between the original film franchise and HBO’s new adaptation, with former stars offering guidance as the next trio step into the wizarding world.

Production on the HBO series appears to be proceeding smoothly, according to McLaughlin's update during his BBC appearance.

"It's going amazing, it's going really well. I've made good friends with everyone, it's great to be there," the young actor reported.

Mr McLaughlin secured the coveted role following an extensive casting process that attracted an extraordinary 32,000 hopefuls auditioning for the three lead characters.

The announcement of his casting came in May, with filming commencing over the summer months.

Joining Mr McLaughlin in the magical trio are Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Both young actors similarly emerged from the massive pool of candidates vying for roles in the highly anticipated series.

The television adaptation, scheduled to premiere on HBO and Max in 2027, represents a fresh interpretation of J.K. Rowling's beloved books.

The young actor's BBC appearance coincided with promotion for his CBBC series Gifted, which centres on Scottish teenagers discovering supernatural abilities.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter