David Holmes

Hi everyone this is a really exciting one to announce. I have written a book! It's called 'The Boy Who Lived: When Magic and Reality Collide' and it's published by @hodderbooks and is out on the 14th of November. It's full of behind-the-scenes stories from my time on the Harry Potter films as well as my life as a stuntman and journey post accident. My friend Daniel Radcliffe has kindly written a foreword. This has been an emotional rollercoaster but also an amazing opportunity to tell my story outside of what was in the documentary. I am so excited for everyone to read it and if you head to the link in my bio it's available for pre-order now. #DavidHolmes #DavidHolmesTheBoyWhoLived #DanielRadcliffe #TheBoyWhoLived #HarryPotterBook

Trailer drop 💥. I am honoured and excited to share with the world my journey. A lot of love, hard work dedication and support goes into me just existing. I am extremely grateful to everybody who has contributed to not only my life, but also this project. It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child, well the same rules apply to living with a Spinal Cord Injury. David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, an @HBO and Sky Original Documentary which tells the extraordinary story of Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double and their lasting friendship, premieres on HBO 15th November and on Sky TV on 18th November @streamonmax . #DavidHolmesHBO @skytv #davidholmessky #skydocs #Stunts #Stuntman #NHS #harrypotter #DanielRadcliffe #HBO #disability #spinalcordinjury #NHS # @rnohnhs @rippleproductions @roguedanhartley @amy_stares @vanessadaviesfilm @lightboxent @britishstuntregister @marcmailley @stuntsworldwide @kevinkonak @HBO

There’s a famous saying in the film industry: never work with children and animals… but on Potter, we worked with both. And honestly, it was part of the magic. People don’t always realise just how many incredible animals were involved behind the scenes. They weren’t just props — every one had its own personality, quirks, and role to play. I had the privilege of working alongside some amazing animal trainers and spending time with everything from owls and ravens to birds of prey and Fang’s dogs. Whether it was having my hand pecked by crows while helping rescue Buckbeak, squeezing between the seats of the flying Ford Anglia making sure Hedwig was safe in her cage, or simply hanging out backstage with these beautiful creatures… it was always a joy. One of my favourites was one of the Fang dogs called Fidget. Massive on screen, complete softy off screen. One of the coolest parts of the studio lot was the little animal “zoo” that housed both the working and retired animals. Years later, after my injury, I returned for a visit and got to reconnect with many of them again, which was incredibly special. One of my favourite photos is this little owl sitting on my head looking completely unbothered while I grin underneath it. I’m reminded of it because I recently spotted a little owl in the wild and immediately thought: oh my God… I’ve actually had one of those cute little things sitting on my head.

14-year-old me riding on the back of the family hero robot on the 1998 movie Lost in Space. This was my very first real taste of being part of the big screen, and I spent the summer of my life navigating alien planets, spaceships, and riding robots. It was this movie, and this summer, that set me on the path to becoming a stunt performer — something that officially became reality 10 years later when I joined the @britishstuntregister . To anybody out there with big dreams as a child… hold onto them. Chase them. Never give up on them. Yes, my stunt career ended abruptly, and my life changed forever, but I’ve never chosen to live with fear or regret. Every twist in that path has led me to the person I am today. And for that, I’ll always be grateful. ✨

A little throwback to when I worked on My Boy Jack 🎬 I was brought in as a stunt double for Daniel Radcliffe, which for me was always a bit surreal given our history. On this one, I had the chance to ride a 1915 Douglas original motorbike — not something you get to say every day. The film tells the story of Rudyard Kipling and the devastating loss of his son in the trenches during World War I. It’s a powerful piece, and being part of something with that weight and history behind it really stayed with me. We filmed in some incredible locations, including Kipling’s actual home, as well as out in the Irish countryside for the more physical sequences. Proper old-school filmmaking — mud, engines, period kit… the lot. Looking back at this photo, it’s one of those moments where you realise how lucky you are to have had a front-row seat (and sometimes a crash helmet) in this industry. ⸻ #MyBoyJack #StuntLife #Throwback #FilmSet #WW1 DanielRadcliffe Stunts BehindTheScenes

Who wants normal? book review Wow, just wow. That is a call to action if I’ve ever read one. So expertly written that I’m inspired to be a better writer myself. Educational, thought provoking, and genuinely funny. Society as a whole is privileged to have this book. As a disabled man, I started reading this because I wanted to be a better partner and grasp and understanding of what it is to be a woman with a disability in today’s society. As a disabled man, it made me reflect on my own privilege and want to focus more of my advocacy on the rights of disabled women. In a recent post, I touched on the fact that most disabled women do not have equal rights to healthcare in this country but after reading this, disabled women do not have equal rights to so much more than just that one sector of society. This is a book that acknowledges improvements that have happened over recent years but also demonstrates that this is just the start of what needs to change. The author does a great job of recognising this, and also of reminding the community, in a very empathic way, that this is not our fault, it can be changed, and that we are enough just as we are.

What I’m listening to so far in 2026 🎧 I can confidently say I’m obsessed with having a constant soundtrack to my life. Every time I put up a post or story, people always reach out for recommendations. When it comes to music, I’m an album guy. I think artists want you to hear more than just one track — an album is a body of work, curated as a complete listening experience of what they’re trying to say or share. You don’t just look at the corner of a painting… you sit back and take the whole thing in. In no particular order, here’s a selection of the albums that have been in my life during the first quarter of 2026: @jamesblake — Trying Times @realcoleworld — The Fall Off @geeseband — Getting Killed @rosalia.vt — LUX @raye — This Music May Contain Hope @tommisch — Full Circle @zachlanebryan — With Heaven on Top (Acoustic) @boniver — Volumes: One (Live Album) @mumfordandsons — Prize Fighter Always open to recommendations — what should I be listening to next?

Just watched the new HBO Harry Potter TV series trailer. It comes with a mix of emotions for me. As a fan, I’m excited to see what they do with the series, but as someone so closely connected to Harry and the wizarding world, I’m sure it will open an emotional can of worms — revisiting my old job, my old life, my old purpose. Nevertheless, despite not being there to ride broomsticks, battle dragons, and wander through the amazing sets recreating the halls of Hogwarts, I will be like everybody else, tuning in to watch Harry embark on his journey into the world of magic this coming December. I wish the very best of luck to all those involved — from the actors and stunt performers in front of the camera, to the team of assistant directors, production assistants, set designers, craftspeople, camera team, and the hundreds, probably thousands, of people across all departments who are currently working hard to make the magic happen #HarryPotter #HBOHarryPotter #HarryPotterSeries #WizardingWorld #Hogwarts Potterhead HarryPotterFans Magic NewSeries TVSeries HBOMax FantasySeries ComingSoon DecemberRelease FilmAndTV

Today was a good day. A massive thank you @lucianobacheta for a once in a lifetime experience over the city of London. We even managed to sneak in a cheeky Visit to my old place of work leavesden Studios and checked out some of the New sets for the forthcoming HP TV series from the air. Epic.!!!

The bsr Charity fight night 10 years ago, the whole community and friends of the @britishstuntreguster came together to help raise money for 3 individuals. Myself, @oliviathebandit and a Young girl poppy who was battling serious illness, Members of the BSR stepped up in the ring put on professional bouts of various martial arts and boxing matches Direct result of the funds raised in relation to me went onto to expand the spinal injuries unit at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Being a patient as well as charity I am an ambassador for I’m always brimming with pride and grateful for the brave individuals and organises who helped to put on the event That night, I actually did get to meet @tomholland in person just before he was about to embark on his journey as Spiderman

I Swear For a long time society has tried to place human conditions into neat categories — physical or mental. The reality is far more complex. For many years, difference on screen was poorly represented. I can’t tell you how many films I’ve watched about people living with a spinal cord injury where the writers and directors decided the best Hollywood ending would be for the person to either overcome their injury and learn to walk again, or kill themselves. Not only is this damaging for the community I belong to, but also for society as a whole. Thankfully, things are getting better, and stories about people navigating neurological conditions and difference are less often portrayed through the lens of victimhood. I Swear captures life with Tourette syndrome in all its complexity — the good and the bad, the pain, perseverance and triumph of a human life navigating adversity during a time when visibility and acceptance had to be fought for by fearless human beings such as John Davidson. The world is a better place because of this film, and because of @johndavidsonmbe 9/10⭐️

Despite the current news cycle, we should still elevate and celebrate all of those individuals currently competing in the Winter Paralympic Games. Overcoming adversity through sport is a shining example of the willpower, resilience and commitment that the athletes competing right now embody every single day. The Paralympics reminds us that the human spirit is capable of far more than most people ever imagine. To all the athletes pushing limits, breaking barriers and representing their countries with pride — you have my admiration. And to the Great Britain Paralympic Team, I’m wishing you the very best of luck in competition. We’re all behind you. 🇬🇧