Rupert Grint has told the BBC he’s unlikely to ever "step out" of Ron Weasley's shadow, some 14 years after the release of the final Harry Potter film.

"I'm fine with that. I think it's great," he said. "I love meeting people who really felt this was part of their childhood."

Grint, 37, who played Ron in all eight of the franchise's movies, also revealed he has written a letter to the child actor playing Ron in the upcoming TV series.

"It's quite strange to have the cycle happening again," he said. "I'm really intrigued what it's going to be like."

Grint was speaking to BBC News at an event to switch on the Christmas lights in Highgate, north London, on Wednesday.

The actor, who lives locally with his partner, actress Georgia Groome, and their two daughters, drew a crowd of fans to the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution and Highgate Society.

As children, Grint and his co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson had their lives transformed by their wizarding roles in the big-screen adaptation of JK Rowling's books between 2001 and 2011.

Grint was 11 when he was cast as Ron - who is characterised as one of Harry Potter's best friends at Hogwarts - and now describes the experience as being "crazy".

"It changed my whole life quite quickly," he said. "I was a huge fan of the books, so for me it was like stepping into the books, and that was very special."

Grint has switched on the Christmas lights in Highgate in........

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