Harry Potter memes flood Twitter after JVT says someone named Professor Snape would run Covid trial

Harry Potter memes flooded Twitter after Jonathan Van-Tam said someone named Professor Snape would be running a UK Covid-19 trial

England’s deputy chief medical officer Van-Tam made the comment during the daily Downing Street press briefing on Wednesday.

A programme that will investigate vaccine boosters when it starts in June will be led by Prof Matthew Snape of the Health Research Authority, he confirmed.

Comedian Matthew Highton mocking up Van-Tam as if he was speaking in front of a Hogwarts lectern live on Sky News.

Here's Jonathan Van-Tam talking about Professor Snape and the booster but from Hogwarts.*

*still a serious message though. Just saying... pic.twitter.com/LZ1F4dM57c

— Matthew Highton (@MattHighton) April 28, 2021

For a while Professor Snape trended on Twitter as others, including broadcasters, piled in.

Professor Snape instructing his coworkers on the covid booster program pic.twitter.com/2eq5qEyA2v

— Cally (@CallySalter) April 28, 2021

Sky tweeted: “Jonathan Van-Tam says Professor Snape (not that one) will be running a study into which #COVID19 vaccines people can receive as boosters.”

Jonathan Van-Tam says Professor Snape (not that one) will be running a study into which #COVID19 vaccines people can receive as boosters.

Get the latest #coronavirus news: https://t.co/soACOqA3di pic.twitter.com/8sGNjFjOnF

— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 28, 2021

Dr Neil Penter added: “How marvellous! #DowningStreetBriefing.”

Dave Sansom said: “Looking forward to Bradley Walsh laughing hysterically in a few years on The Chase when they ask who ran the UK Covid trials: A) Professor Snape; B) Dumbledore; C) Miss Trelawney.”

Did I hear that right?!?! Professor Snape, potions teacher is looking into the boosters? pic.twitter.com/7CC0372TKi

— Andy Agoston-Jones (@baldini84) April 28, 2021

It was left to the Health Research Authority to reveal the real scientist is their very own Professor Matthew Snape - not the sinister villain played by the late actor Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter film series.

And you can read more about the work of Professor Snape (not that one!) and the Com-COV study in the research summaries section of our website. Always https://t.co/8FDuooXbT6 https://t.co/5wG3IgGJ6G

— The Health Research Authority (@HRA_Latest) April 28, 2021