Coastal Railways with Julie Walters
Julie Walters sets off on a magical railway adventure...
as Mrs Weasley in the Harry Potter films, Julie Walters would often wave off Ron, Fred, George and Ginny from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross as they boarded the Hogwarts Express.
And in her new travelogue, Julie finally gets the chance to travel on the iconic steam train herself!
The four-part series follows the actress as she travels along some of Britain’s most picturesque coastal railways, stopping along the way to meet the locals.
‘I’m lucky because, as an actor, I’ve been able to travel,’ says the 67-year-old, who lives on a farm in West Sussex with her husband Grant. ‘But I’ve never really explored what’s on my own doorstep.’
So when she was offered the chance to discover the UK’s coastline by rail, Julie didn’t need asking twice.
‘I’m a bit of a romantic with an absolute passion for the seaside,’ she explains.
Looks familiar
Part one of the series takes Julie on a journey along the west coast of Scotland, travelling on board The Jacobite steam train line, which Harry Potter fans might just recognise…
‘It was my co-star in the Harry Potter films when I played Mrs Weasley,’ explains Julie, who buys a liquorice wand from the train’s trolley service, and crosses the stunning Glenfinnan viaduct, which will also be familiar to Potter fans.
‘I kept thinking about those two little lads sitting opposite each other – Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint as Harry and Ron – and little Hermione. Finally Mrs Weasley made it onto the train!’