Who are the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast?

We now know who will be coming in to replace the original cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. They will take over on 24 May, so if you have tickets for that date and beyond, get to know the new cast a little better with our handy guide.

Jamie Glover

Harry Potter

Glover is tasked with taking over the lead role from History Boy Jamie Parker. Glover is probably best known for his role in Waterloo Road, playing deputy headteacher Andrew Treneman in the first two series. He's no stranger to the stage, most recently appearing alongside Nigel Harman in What's In a Name? at Birmingham Rep. His other theatre work includes The Rehearsal, An Ideal Husband and If Only at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Noises Off at the Old Vic and Novello Theatre.

Glover has also worked on the Potter franchise before, voicing wizard Remus Lupin in the Prisoner of Azkaban video game in 2004.

Emma Lowndes

Ginny Potter

Fans of the ITV series Downton Abbey may recognise Lowndes as farmer Timothy Drewe's wife Margie. In 2003, she won the Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role following her performances in Port and The Seagull at the Royal Exchange. She has most recently appeared on stage in The Herbal Bed in Northampton. She replaces Poppy Miller in the role.

Theo Ancient

Albus Potter

Ancient will be swapping student life for the West End stage, as the final year RADA student prepares for his professional stage debut – and what a role to take on. He will replace Sam Clemmett as Harry and Ginny's son Albus.

He should be well prepared for he role. During his time at RADA he's played Hamlet, and won the Audience Award for Most Entertaining Fight. Maybe he'll have the chance to put those fight skills into practice…

Thomas Aldridge

Ron Weasley

Aldridge worked with Tim Minchin on Matilda, workshopping Bruce Bogtrotter when the RSC were developing the show. He was also Barry in the original West End cast of Made in Dagenham, and he's currently playing Grantaire in Les Miserables.

Yes, we loved Paul Thornley's Ron Weasley, but we're excited to see what he does with the character (will go clean shaven or are we going to see a beardy Ron?)

He acted in some Paddy Power adverts a few years ago, and we're willing to put our money on him doing a great job.

Rakie Ayola

Hermione Granger

Welsh actress Ayola takes over from Noma Dumezweni as Hermione. She last appeared on stage in Barney Norris' The Rest Of Your Life, part of the Bush's off-site season while its renovations took place.

She played Siobhan in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and was on stage during the performance when the roof of the Apollo collapsed in 2013. We hope nothing goes wrong during Ayola's run in the play, but maybe she'll be able to make the most of Hermione's reparo spell if it does.

Helen Aluko

Rose Granger-Weasley

Aluko is no stranger to the role of Rose. She's an original HP cast member, and has already performed the role as an understudy last year. She takes over from Cherrelle Skeete.

She was Belle in Theatre Royal Stratford East's 2014 panto Beauty and the Beast, so she'll be able to bring some charm to the role.

James Howard

Draco Malfoy

Howard played a doctor in The Theory of Everything, the 2014 film which earned its lead Eddie Redmayne his first Oscar. He's been a member of the Potter cast since previews, and replaces Alex Price as Draco. He's worked for the RSC, appearing in Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Mojo, King Lear and Morte D’Arthur.

The Malfoy's are described as "the family you can rely on to make the world a murkier place", so Howard may need to draw on his darker roles, such as The Oxford Murders.

Samuel Blenkin

Scorpius Malfoy

Blenkin is currently in his final year at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and will take over from Anthony Boyle. Boyle's performance was described as "career-making" by WhatsOnStage's Sarah Crompton, and he went on to win the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a play. So no pressure there.

Blenkin is a keen musician, uploading covers and original compositions to his Soundcloud account.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is booking at the Palace Theatre until 29 April 2018.