{
  "id": 468925,
  "title": "Undersea power cable diverted after \"Harry Potter\" fans complain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/undersea-power-cable-diverted-after-harry-potter-fans-complain",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-10T12:44:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harry-potter-dobby-grave-power-cable-construction/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A subsea electricity link between Ireland and the United Kingdom faced a diversion after fans of the \"Harry Potter\" books expressed concern over potential damage to a memorial for Dobby, the series' fictional house elf. Simon Ludlam, CEO of the project's developer Etchea Energy, revealed that the company's original plan was to lay parts of the cable through Freshwater West beach in Wales, a decision that went unnoticed when he discussed the project on BBC Wales. Following the segment, the CEO received hundreds of calls from \"Harry Potter\" enthusiasts, leading to a reassessment of the route. Ludlam recalled being informed, \"We're going straight through Dobby's grave,\" to which he responded, \"Dobby? Who's Dobby?\" after dismissing the character as fictional. After acknowledging the seriousness of the complaints, the company consulted with planners to reroute the cable, ultimately avoiding both Dobby's memorial and nearby Bronze Age remains. Despite the diversion, the project proceeded, leaving both Dobby and the memorial's supporters satisfied.",
  "summary": "The CEO of Etchea Energy described being inundated with calls after inadvertently planning an underground cable beneath a memorial to the fictional \"Harry Potter\" character.",
  "key_points": [
    "Harry Potter fans protested cable route near Dobby's memorial.",
    "Etchea Energy CEO initially unaware of memorial location.",
    "Cable rerouted to avoid memorial and Bronze Age remains."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The unexpected outcry from Harry Potter fans has led to a change in the undersea power cable route, showing the influence of dedicated fan bases on real-world projects.",
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/468925.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "‘Harry Potter’ star Jessie Cave says OnlyFans gig ‘genuinely saved’ her life",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/harry-potter-star-jessie-cave-says-onlyfans-gig-genuinely-saved-her",
        "published": "2026-08-10T13:46:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}