Harry Potter books prove UK lockdown hit despite JK Rowling trans rights row

Bloomsbury says books were a lockdown hit, with children's division revenue up 27%

The backlash against JK Rowling's views on transgender law reform has failed to dent the popularity of the Harry Potter author's books, with publisher Bloomsbury saying they have proved a lockdown hit, pushing revenues at the group's children's division up more than a quarter.

The company, which publishes all of the author's Harry Potter books, said its consumer publishing arm grew sales by 28% to 31.4m. The children's division grew by 27% to 18.7m, with Bloomsbury highlighting Rowling's titles as a bestseller".