The magic of Hogwarts’ Great Hall in the Harry Potter films is legendary, but for the actors who brought it to life, the memory comes with a less-than-magical aroma. James and Oliver Phelps, the twin actors behind the iconic Weasley brothers Fred and George, recently shared a surprisingly gross behind-the-scenes secret.
While hosting the second season of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking at the original studios, the duo reminisced about filming those massive feast scenes. They revealed that the enchanting set was often plagued by a powerful and unpleasant odor.
Oliver Phelps explained that with hundreds of cast and crew members packed into the hall, the air was a mixture of smells. The primary culprit? The elaborate prop food itself. To create the illusion of sumptuous magical feasts, production used real turkeys, vegetables, and other dishes. These items would sit for hours under hot studio lights, slowly roasting and wilting.
The result, as Oliver humorously noted, was a lingering stench reminiscent of “smelly socks” and over-cooked vegetables—a sensory memory so strong he still associates it with watching those scenes today. It’s a hilarious reminder that even the most fantastical film sets have very real-world challenges!
