In 1996 after many rejections struggling author JK Rowling finds a publisher for her first Harry Potter novel. Witness talks to the man who spotted the boy wizard's potential.

In 1996, after many rejections, author JK Rowling at last finds a publisher for her first Harry Potter novel. Witness talks to editor, Barry Cunningham, who spotted the boy wizard's potential and helped create a phenomenon that would revolutionise childrens' book publishing, selling more than 450 million copies.

Picture: author JK Rowling holds the sixth and penultimate Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. (Credit: AP)

Audio recording © J.K. Rowling