<p>The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards were filled with glamour and applause for the winners. But amid the celebration, the ceremony, which took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall, saw unexpected interruptions after host Alan Cumming briefly paused the show to address repeated outbursts heard inside the venue.</p><h2>What was the cause of interruptions?</h2><p>On Sunday, the award show was halted twice as loud comments were heard during the live event. Cumming later clarified that the sounds came from John Davidson, a nominee and Tourette’s awareness advocate seated in the audience.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-awards-2026-boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-pays-homage-to-ignored-unrepresented-manipur-in-her-winning-speech-pray-for-peace-1771811798786"><strong>BAFTAs: Boong director pays homage to Manipur in her winning speech</strong></a></p><h2>Outbursts heard during live broadcast</h2><p>According to a Deadline report, during the ceremony, Davidson's involuntary vocal tics were caught by the microphones present there, and it was also audible during the broadcast. Additionally, some of the words also made the presenters and winners pause momentarily while speaking on stage.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>During the opening segment, shouts such as "boring" and "f**k off" were heard while BAFTA chair Sara Putt addressed the audience. Another interruption occurred when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the Best Visual Effects award.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/bafta-film-awards-2026-winners-list-1771784096629"><strong>BAFTA 2026 full winners list: One Battle After Another dominates the night</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lmao Tourette’s advocate John Davidson suddenly blasted the N-word right as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo stood on stage at the BAFTAs, leaving everyone stunned!<br><br>Host Alan Cumming then politely thanked the crowd for their patience<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/jFlbd86R5Q">pic.twitter.com/jFlbd86R5Q</a></p>&mdash; Zee 🔥 (@Zeeeee_xx) <a href="https://twitter.com/Zeeeee_xx/status/2025738903114658295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/alia-bhatt-debuts-on-the-bafta-2026-stage-with-namaskar-wins-over-the-internet-with-her-hindi-watch-1771809029032"><strong>Alia Bhatt debuts on BAFTA stage with ‘Namaskar’, wins over the Internet</strong></a></p><h2>Alan Cumming addresses the audience</h2><p>During the award segments, the host acknowledged the interruptions and requested understanding. He said that the viewers may have heard “strong language” during the event and later apologised if anyone was offended.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cumming explained that the comments were not made intentionally, and that the vocal tics linked with Tourette’s are involuntary. As per reports, at one point during the evening, Davidson left the auditorium.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/bafta-2026-honours-dharmendra-in-emotional-in-memoriam-tribute-fans-react-1771821644846"><strong>BAFTA 2026 honours Dharmendra in emotional In Memoriam tribute; fans react</strong></a></p><h2>Who is John Davidson?</h2><p>Widely known for raising awareness about Tourette’s syndrome, John Davidson's life is depicted in the film<i> I Swear, </i>and his character is portrayed by Robert Aramayo. He has often spoken about living with the condition. Aramayo, who won the Rising Star Award at the ceremony, paid tribute to Davidson in his speech, calling him "the most remarkable man I’ve ever met."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Davidson has long been recognised for his advocacy work and previously received an honour from Queen Elizabeth II for raising awareness and supporting people living with the condition.</p>

Amid the cheers and applause, 2026 BAFTA Film Awards were briefly interrupted after host Alan Cumming paused the show to address repeated outbursts. He addressed the issue and thanked the audience for understanding.  


The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards were filled with glamour and applause for the winners. But amid the celebration, the ceremony, which took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall, saw unexpected interruptions after host Alan Cumming briefly paused the show to address repeated outbursts heard inside the venue. What was the cause of interruptions? On Sunday, the award show was halted twice as loud comments were heard during the live event. Cumming later clarified that the sounds came from John Davidson, a nominee and Tourette’s awareness advocate seated in the audience. Also Read: BAFTAs: Boong director pays homage to Manipur in her winning speech Outbursts heard during live broadcast According to a Deadline report, during the ceremony, Davidson's involuntary vocal tics were caught by the microphones present there, and it was also audible during the broadcast. Additionally, some of the words also made the presenters and winners pause momentarily while speaking on stage. During the opening segment, shouts such as "boring" and "f**k off" were heard while BAFTA chair Sara Putt addressed the audience. Another interruption occurred when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the Best Visual Effects award. Also Read: BAFTA 2026 full winners list: One Battle After Another dominates the night

<p>Amid the cheers and applause, 2026 BAFTA Film Awards were briefly interrupted after host Alan Cumming paused the show to address repeated outbursts. He addressed the issue and thanked the audience for understanding. &nbsp;</p>

F*** off, N-word! Host Alan Cumming apologises for strong language during BAFTA 2026

BAFTA 2026: Scottish actor, writer, and presenter Alan Cumming has been announced as the host of the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards, succeeding David Tennant who hosted the previous two ceremonies. The event will take place at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 22, 2026, and will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 


BAFTA 2026: Alan Cumming Replaces Tennant as BAFTA Film Awards Host 

<p>Scottish actor Alan Cumming said on Friday he had returned a UK state honour in protest at the "toxicity" of the British Empire, 14 years after receiving the award.&nbsp;Cumming, who is largely US-based, was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009 in recognition of his acting and his work for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.</p>

<p>But he said he had reflected further on the role of the monarchy after the death last year of Queen Elizabeth II.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That refection, "and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes", Cumming said in an Instagram post marking his 58th birthday.</p>

<p>Gay rights had advanced meanwhile in the United States, and any benefit from the award was "now less potent than the misgivings I have being associated with the toxicity of the empire", Cumming said.</p>

<p>"So, I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place. I'm now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again. Happy birthday to me!"</p>

<p>The queen's death also forced a reckoning for Welsh actor Michael Sheen, who handed back his OBE late last year and urged an end to the heir to the British crown being named Prince of Wales.</p>

<p>Further back, Beatles songwriter John Lennon returned his MBE medal -- which ranks below an OBE -- in 1969 in protest at UK involvement in a Nigerian civil war and its support for the US war in Vietnam.&nbsp;</p>


Scottish actor Alan Cumming said on Friday he had returned a UK state honour in protest at the "toxicity" of the British Empire, 14 years after receiving the award.

Scottish actor Alan Cumming said on Friday he had returned a UK state honour in protest at the "toxicity" of the British Empire, 14 years after receiving the award. Cumming, who is largely US-based, was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009 in recognition of his acting and his work for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. But he said he had reflected further on the role of the monarchy after the death last year of Queen Elizabeth II. That refection, "and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes", Cumming said in an Instagram post marking his 58th birthday. Gay rights had advanced meanwhile in the United States, and any benefit from the award was "now less potent than the misgivings I have being associated with the toxicity of the empire", Cumming said. "So, I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place. I'm now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again. Happy birthday to me!" The queen's death also forced a reckoning for Welsh actor Michael Sheen, who handed back his OBE late last year and urged an end to the heir to the British crown being named Prince of Wales. Further back, Beatles songwriter John Lennon returned his MBE medal -- which ranks below an OBE -- in 1969 in protest at UK involvement in a Nigerian civil war and its support for the US war in Vietnam.

Actor Alan Cumming hands back UK medal in anti-empire protest

<p>On his 58th birthday, actor Alan Cumming has decided to give back the OBE he was awarded back in 2009.&nbsp;Cumming was honoured with the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for his work in performing arts. Recently, Cumming marked his 58th birthday with a post on Instagram declaring that he was returning his OBE.</p>

<p>The Scottish actor talked about how he had recently "opened his eyes" to the "toxicity" of the British Empire.&nbsp;<br />
Cumming said the death of Queen Elizabeth II prompted him to do some soul searching and the conversations the event sparked.<br />
<br />
“I was incredibly grateful to receive (the OBE)&nbsp;in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list, for it was awarded not just for my job as an actor but ‘for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA,’” wrote Cumming.&nbsp;<br />
He had become an American citizen a year earlier and cited some of the homophobic bills in that country that he had campaigned against: the Defence of Marriage Act, which prevented federal recognition of same-sex marriages, and the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy that barred openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people from serving in the military.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn6UtxFucen/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn6UtxFucen/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn6UtxFucen/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn6UtxFucen/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Alan Cumming (@alancummingreally)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Back in 2018, when he received the OBE, Cumming said in a statement, “I see this honour as an encouragement to go on fighting for what I believe is right and for what I take for granted as a UK citizen. Thank you to the Queen and those who make up her birthday honours list for bringing attention to the inaction of the US government on this issue. It makes me very proud to be British, and galvanised as an American."<br />
<br />
Cumming's mind has changed after recent debates around the importance of monarchy around the world gained importance- especially the way “the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world”.&nbsp;</p>


On his 58th birthday, actor Alan Cumming has decided to give back the OBE he was awarded back in 2009. Cumming was honoured with the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for his work in performing arts.

On his 58th birthday, actor Alan Cumming has decided to give back the OBE he was awarded back in 2009. Cumming was honoured with the Order of the British Empire in 2009 for his work in performing arts. Recently, Cumming marked his 58th birthday with a post on Instagram declaring that he was returning his OBE. The Scottish actor talked about how he had recently "opened his eyes" to the "toxicity" of the British Empire. Cumming said the death of Queen Elizabeth II prompted him to do some soul searching and the conversations the event sparked. “I was incredibly grateful to receive (the OBE) in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list, for it was awarded not just for my job as an actor but ‘for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA,’” wrote Cumming. He had become an American citizen a year earlier and cited some of the homophobic bills in that country that he had campaigned against: the Defence of Marriage Act, which prevented federal recognition of same-sex marriages, and the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy that barred openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people from serving in the military. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alan Cumming (@alancummingreally) × Back in 2018, when he received the OBE, Cumming said in a statement, “I see this honour as an encouragement to go on fighting for what I believe is right and for what I take for granted as a UK citizen. Thank you to the Queen and those who make up her birthday honours list for bringing attention to the inaction of the US government on this issue. It makes me very proud to be British, and galvanised as an American." Cumming's mind has changed after recent debates around the importance of monarchy around the world gained importance- especially the way “the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world”.

Alan Cumming to return his OBE due to the 'toxicity of the British Empire'

<p>Scottish actor Alan Cumming apparently asked the producers of the famous ‘Harry Potter’ franchise when they had offered him a role in one of the movies.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
Cumming was considered for the role of Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’—the second film from this eight-part franchise.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
“I didn't turn it down. I told them to f--- off!” Cumming, known for his part in ‘The Good Wife’, reportedly told a global daily.</p>

<p><br />
“They wanted me and Rupert Everett to do a screen test, and they said they couldn't pay me more than a certain sum, they just didn't have any more money in the budget. And I had the same agent as Rupert, who of course, they were going to pay more. Blatantly lying, stupidly lying, as well. Like, if you're going to lie, be clever about it,” he went on to explain to the same newspaper.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
“I said, tell them to f--- right off. And thought, well Rupert's going to get the part. They made him screen test, and I remember he brought his own wig. And then they f---ing gave it to Kenneth Branagh, came out of the shadows,” Cumming added.</p>

<p><br />
The franchise, based on the eponymous novels by J. K. Rowling and distributed by Warner Bros. for the visual format, released its first installment ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ in on November 4, 2001. Over the years, just like the book, the franchise has been a raging success the world over and has turned the three central characters into huge celebrities.</p>

<p><br />
‘Harry Potter’ is all set to mark its 20th anniversary in November this year.&nbsp;</p>


Scottish actor Alan Cumming apparently asked the producers of the famous ‘Harry Potter’ franchise when they had offered him a role in one of the movies. Cumming was considered for the role of Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’—the second film from this eight-part franchise.

Scottish actor Alan Cumming apparently asked the producers of the famous ‘Harry Potter’ franchise when they had offered him a role in one of the movies. Cumming was considered for the role of Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’—the second film from this eight-part franchise. “I didn't turn it down. I told them to f--- off!” Cumming, known for his part in ‘The Good Wife’, reportedly told a global daily. “They wanted me and Rupert Everett to do a screen test, and they said they couldn't pay me more than a certain sum, they just didn't have any more money in the budget. And I had the same agent as Rupert, who of course, they were going to pay more. Blatantly lying, stupidly lying, as well. Like, if you're going to lie, be clever about it,” he went on to explain to the same newspaper. “I said, tell them to f--- right off. And thought, well Rupert's going to get the part. They made him screen test, and I remember he brought his own wig. And then they f---ing gave it to Kenneth Branagh, came out of the shadows,” Cumming added. The franchise, based on the eponymous novels by J. K. Rowling and distributed by Warner Bros. for the visual format, released its first installment ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ in on November 4, 2001. Over the years, just like the book, the franchise has been a raging success the world over and has turned the three central characters into huge celebrities. ‘Harry Potter’ is all set to mark its 20th anniversary in November this year.

‘Harry Potter’ casting trivia: Alan Cumming asked producers to ‘Ef off!’ over a role offer

alan-cumming

Alan Cumming, News on Alan Cumming, stories on Alan Cumming, articles on Alan Cumming, Alan Cumming stories at Wion, Alan Cumming news, Alan Cumming latest news

alan cumming

F*** off, N-word! Host Alan Cumming apologises for strong language during BAFTA 2026

BAFTA 2026: Alan Cumming Replaces Tennant as BAFTA Film Awards Host

Actor Alan Cumming hands back UK medal in anti-empire protest

Alan Cumming to return his OBE due to the 'toxicity of the British Empire'

‘Harry Potter’ casting trivia: Alan Cumming asked producers to ‘Ef off!’ over a role offer