David Yates, the director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, has announced the appointment of his long-term friend Nicholas Hooper as the composer for the new Potter movie.

Hooper, whose work for The Young Visitors won him the BAFTA for Best Original Score, will be the second composer to take over the reigns from internationally acclaimed composer John Williams, who left after the third film.

It has been speculated that this appointment could well change over the next months, with work on the score not actually due to start until 2007, but sources suggest that the announcement is correct and will remain the same.