'I was Voldemort's body double in Harry Potter movies'

Ian Longstaff will be spilling secrets in this event at Penwortham Arts Centre ‘The Venue’.

Originally from Leeds but now living in Earby near Pendle, Ian is excited to be performing at the newly-refurbished arts centre, which used to be a library.

The 55-year-old said: “It’s a fantastic venue and it’s got a lovely feel to it.

“I do singing as well and I did a charity gig in the venue in December and I loved it so much I thought I want to do something here.”

Ian has a number of interests, including acting, singing, poetry and stand-up comedy.

“I love doing all of it and I wouldn’t want to do one of them to the exclusion of anything else, plus they’re all slightly different so they test you in different ways.

“The thing that pins it all together is the kind of bond you have with the audience, that’s just addictive.”

He chose to do the show to inspire young people “to think about a career in the film industry.”

The name for the show, ‘I Am Voldemort’s Foot’, comes from a scene in ‘The Goblet of Fire’ when Voldemort stands on Robert Pattinson’s character, Cedric Diggory’s, head.

“It was great, I didn’t mind at all but I never asked him if he minded to be honest, although if I’d have known what he was going to go on to, I might’ve pressed a bit harder,” he joked.

Though Ian worked most closely with Daniel Radcliffe who played Harry Potter, he fondly remembers the tense and uncertain nature of working with Alan Rickman.

He said: “It was amazing and slightly unnerving, particularly with Alan Rickman because you never know how he’s going to deliver his line since he would put pauses in places where there shouldn’t be pauses.

“But what a fantastic experience in terms of learning acting.”

The family-friendly show combines storytelling, unseen images and an audience-led Q&A session. Ian won't be dressed as Voldemort for the shows.

Both shows will take place on Sunday, February 23 at 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

You can still get your tickets for the 6.30pm show but if you miss it there is another show on March 14 at the Civic Arts Centre in Oswaldtwistle.

The majority of the Harry Potter films, including the final two instalments, were directed by Lancashire born film and television director David Yates.