Andrew Lincoln: The Walking Dead star on narrating a Quidditch book

The British actor's latest venture is worlds away from Rick Grimes

‘I think being one of the only actors left in British Equity not to be in any of the Harry Potter films was a factor in saying yes’ (Rex)

Andrew Lincoln has been fending off both the undead and depraved dictators for well over eight years now as Rick Grimes in AMC series The Walking Dead. But the British actor’s latest venture couldn’t be further removed from his day job - the narrator of an audiobook dedicated to the subject of Quidditch.

“I think being one of the only actors left in British Equity not to be in any of the Harry Potter films was a factor in saying yes to the audiobook,” Lincoln tells me. “Most of my friends had been wizards, Mudbloods and house-elves at one time or another and I was starting to take it personally.”

Quidditch Through the Ages tracks the history of the game as featured in JK Rowling’s novels. Released by Pottermore, the immersive audiobook promises to throw listeners directly into the heart of a live Quidditch match, with a proportion of proceeds going to Comic Relief and Rowling’s international charity, Lumos.

Lincoln recounts his earliest memory of Harry Potter, recalling how the child of a senior literary agent in his agent at the time’s office, named Daniel Radcliffe, had signed on to play the title role in a planned film adaptation.

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in ‘The Walking Dead’

“The project was cloaked in secrecy even then, so rather than try to look at a script I ran across the road and read the book immediately. I loved it and the world that Rowling had created.

“I thought one of the greatest achievements of the movies was realising the world so perfectly, and casting most of the main characters that I already had in my head while reading the book. Most notably, the brilliant Alan Rickman as Professor Snape.”

Speaking of making characters his own, Lincoln himself became a household name stateside following his lead role in The Walking Dead which, since 2010, has become into one of the world’s most-watched TV shows, still attracting in impressive ratings for a show on its eighth season.

Although hesitant to speak about what the final four episodes have in store for his character, following the traumatic death of his on-screen son, Carl (Chandler Riggs), he’s more than happy to address the future of co-star Lauren Cohan (Maggie Rhee) who is caught up in a salary dispute with producers, throwing her future with the show into question.

“Lauren is a good friend and wonderful actress. What she has created with the role of Maggie has had an enormous impact on the world of The Walking Dead. I would be surprised if Maggie Rhee wasn’t leading from the front as she always has done next season,” he says confidently.

“That is, of course, if she and Rick make it through the next four episodes.”

The other role Lincoln would have relished making his own is that of Harry Potter‘s very own Albus Dumbledore, a character he claims to have “always felt a connection” with while reading the stories to his children – so much so that, while recording the audiobook, he attempted to pitch an origin TV show to Pottermore bigwigs.

“I think it’s something about his combination of humour and mischief. He knows how to twinkle,” Lincoln says. “Every spare minute during the recording sessions I was pitching an Albus origin series half seriously to the people from Pottermore.

“This was obviously before I saw the recent trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” he adds, referencing the sequel, set to star Jude Law as a younger incarnation of the future Hogwarts headmaster.

In the meantime, Lincoln reveals he probably won’t be listening back to the audiobook (“I struggle to listen to my own voicemail message”), but is certain on one thing: which Quidditch position he’d play.

“I would play goalie,” he says with assurance. “The Sloth Defence would be my signature move.”

Such is the nature of The Walking Dead‘s intense shooting schedule that Lincoln only gets a mere three months spare before cameras resume rolling for the next season – providing Rick makes it out alive (something that’s continually being teased by comic book writer Robert Kirkman).

In that time, his co-star Norman Reedus – who appears on the series as Daryl Dixon – records another TV series for AMC: the self-explanatory Ride with Norman Reedus, which sees him travel to different destinations around the world on his motorcycle, accompanied by celebrity guests.

If Lincoln could pitch a similar series to AMC, which hobby he choose? It turns out the actor is bubbling with ideas.

“Bell-Ringing With Andrew Lincoln,” he quips. “Cheeses of the World – I travel the world eating and making artisanal cheese. Bucket List – I host a show where people choose a couple of things from their bucket list and we go on a spiritual odyssey fulfilling them.”

He continues: “Playing a cornet solo at Ronnie Scott’s, big wave surfing in Hawaii, sheep-herding with my pet dog... Food for Thought – people choose five meals that describe them. Think Desert Island Discs with food. I host and get to eat all the food with the guests. I could go on...”

Before anything, however, he’s got to make good on his promise of defeating The Walking Dead‘s current big bad, Negan.

Quidditch Through the Ages is available to own globally now at audible.co.uk/quidditch. The Walking Dead season 8 continues on AMC every Sunday, with the UK premiere the next evening on FOX as well as available to stream on NOW TV.

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