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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lucy Needham

Sam Thompson joins Harry Potter star Jason Issacs for Gringotts Bank launch

Harry Potter fans, including Sam Thompson and Nicola Roberts, enjoyed a magical evening at the grand opening of Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

The celebs were out in force for the exclusive event at the Warner Bros Studio Tour - which was kicked off by Lucius Malfoy himself, Jason Issacs.

Early visitor Made in Chelsea star Sam- a self-confessed superfan of the JK Rowling series - joked that he was using the launch as an opportunity to screen for potential life partners.

Harry Potter super fan Sam Thompson said he was looking for love at the Studio Tour (Dave Benett)
Jason Issacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the hit, films kicked off the tour (PA)

26-year-old Sam said that while some men dream of a girlfriend that loves watching Match of the Day, all he wants is a lady who loves Harry Potter as much as he does.

Last month Sam proved his dedication with a wand tattoo etched on his left arm, as as a permanent reminder of his love for the boy wizard.

The unveiling came just weeks before he announced plans to quit Made in Chelsea after six years.

Hintint at latest plans at the Studio Tour, Sam said he's had a studio built into his home in the hope of starting his own podcast and a career in presenting.

Made In Chelsea's Louise Thompson and fiance Ryan QUIT show one day after brother Sam

Kimberley Wyatt attended the event with her family (Scott Garfitt/PinPep)

Fellow 'Potter nerds' Nicola Roberts of Girls Aloud, and the Pussycat Dolls' Kimberley Wyatt also enjoyed taking in the newest expansion of the popular studio tour in North West London.

The singers were pictured strolling through the marble pillars of Gringotts' grand entrance and into the Lestrange vault before exploring the destroyed wizarding bank, as seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

Harry Potter fans can currently bag cheap after-hours Warner Bros Studio tours

The latest expansion features a model of a Ukranian Ironbelly dragon hanging above guests' heads (Scott Garfitt/PinPep)
Fantastic Beasts stars Claudia Kim and Daniel Fogler also welcomed visitors at the the exclusive launch (Doug Peters/PA Wire)
Guests had a blast posing underneath the imposing creature (Scott Garfitt/PinPep)

Officially opening on Saturday 6th April, the 16,500sqft Gringotts Wizarding Bank expansion will be the Studio Tour’s biggest addition to date and features an impressive new Hub area which houses additional retail spaces inspired by Diagon Alley, and the brand-new Chocolate Frog Café.

Suspended from the ceiling in the Hub area, resting above the heads of visitors, is a huge Ukrainian Ironbelly model with a wingspan of 64ft.

This dragon model, along with the Gringotts Wizarding Bank set, has been designed and built by members of the original crew members who worked on the hugely successful magical film series including Oscar and BAFTA winning Production Designer Stuart Craig, Construction Manager Paul Hayes and Head Propmaker Pierre Bohanna.

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