EastEnders fans had to look twice when they noticed a familiar face from Albert Square in a Harry Potter film.
The mega-successful Harry Potter series catapulted stars like Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint to international fame. But little did fans know that an EastEnders actor sneaked into the magical world for a cameo in the franchise’s grand finale.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2)” was released in 2011 and was the eighth and final film in the captivating saga.
At the end of the film, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione say goodbye to their older children as they head off to Hogwarts, and attentive viewers might spot a popular character from “EastEnders” in the background.
One eagle-eyed fan highlighted the unexpected appearance on an EastEnders Facebook fan page, expressing surprise at spotting the popular ShrimpyAlbert Square market stall owner, played by Ben Champniss, among the cast of Harry Potter, reports the Daily Star.
“Like Shrimpy is in Harry Potter lol,” remarked one fan, sharing a picture of Ben Champniss’ surprise scene in the film. Another reacted in amazement: “I can’t believe this, I’ve seen it so many times, even a few months ago, and never noticed!”
Among the other comments was the enthusiasm of a third fan: “This is the best thing I have ever seen.” And yet another said: “I have seen the film so many times and still never discovered it!”
Ben Champniss has played the role of popular extra Shrimpy in Walford since 2014, making him one of the few regular extras with such a permanent position in EastEnders.
Shrimpy, known for his iconic mod hairstyle and trilby hats, is often spotted at the square’s market alongside the likes of Martin Fowler.
In April this year, Ben publicly confirmed his continued commitment to EastEnders, stating that he would be staying in Walford for quite some time.
Reflecting on a ten-year journey, Ben wrote of his gratitude on social media: “Today marks 10 years since I marched up Turpin Road, down Bridge Street and into the Queen Vic in Walford with my hat on! Cheers Shrimpy, you changed my life!” When a fan asked: “Are you leaving Enders? X”, Ben humorously replied: “Absolutely not!”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
