Royal Mint Six Decades Of 007 Collection

Posted by

With unique coins dedicated to every era of Bond, The Royal Mint introduces the Six Decades of 007 collection. This exclusive series features six designs – each representing a different decade – minted in a range of different metals and denominations.

The first to be released is the 1960s coin featuring Little Nellie from You Only Live Twice set against a backdrop of the six Bond ‘60s film titles. 

Discussing the design process, The Royal Mint designer Christian Davies commented: “‘Little Nellie’ was a real challenge. It’s such a complex machine; there are so many struts, pipes and mechanical parts to it that it needed to be simplified in the design process without losing the essence of the vehicle. We managed to spend about a week just exploring how the propeller ought to be depicted.”

The collection includes a £5 Crown Brilliant Uncirculated coin, bullion and gold and silver proof editions in ¼ oz, 1 oz and 2 oz variants. Explore it now at 007Store.com.

007: Road To A Million Teams Talk Adventures

Posted by

From Chile to Venice, the Amazon to Swiss Alps, the nine pairs of 007: Road To A Million contestants experienced highs and lows as they faced gruelling physical challenges and questions from The Controller. Here they tell 007.com about this life changing show…

Beth And Jen

Emergency nurses Beth (46) and Jen (41), who have years of experience dealing with traumas around the world.

What did you think you learned about each other during the adventure?

BETH: We realised that we’re actually very resilient. We’ve both got different strengths that really supported each other as a team. I feel as though we can hand on heart say this was 100% a team effort. We’ve developed an even closer friendship. I hope Jen doesn’t mind that I sometimes refer to her as my second sister.

JEN: I just got to know Beth a lot better. As Beth said, we just became really close. We just trust each other like family.

What were your favourite locations?

BETH: I loved Jamaica. I’ve never been before. It’s a real home of Bond and a beautiful place to go to.

JEN: For me, it was Switzerland which was so beautiful with the snow and the mountains. And of course, driving the DB5 made it.

What was the most difficult challenge?

JEN: Definitely scuba diving. I’m claustrophobic and I found it really difficult. At one point I had a mini panic attack. I couldn’t control my breathing and had to go back to the surface. Having gone through the panic, I just thought, “I’ve got to do this, there’s no way I can get out of this.” I did manage to get right down to the bottom of the depth we were diving at. I’d say it was one of the most challenging things I’ve done.

BETH: The Amazon. I was going through a vast expanse of Amazon water with piranhas and then having to use physical strength to get myself up and out onto a speedboat. It was just fatiguing really quickly. Also, heights weren’t great for me.

What was your favourite James Bond Easter Egg?

JEN: Probably the casino set-up in Jamaica. That was very James Bond!

BETH: We were glammed up to the nines, and we just went through this huge door into a room where you thought, “Yeah, we’re now in the movie”.

What would you say is your ultimate James Bond film?

BETH: I do like Casino Royale and the way it was filmed. I like Daniel Craig’s Bond as a character. There’s a humanity to him. Casino Royale was everything that you wanted, with real action.

JEN: I’m really torn, because I do like a lot of the older films as I grew up watching them as my dad’s a big fan. But I really liked Daniel Craig’s. So I’m split between Skyfall and From Russia With Love or Diamonds Are Forever. They’re the classic ones that I’ve seen more times than I can count.

What advice would you give to people wanting to taking part in the show?

JEN: You can’t revise anything. I guess it’s good to have some general knowledge and be as physically fit as you can be. That helped me.

BETH: 100% on the physical fitness but also get used to surviving without sleep. As nurses, we’re very blessed, we’ve had years of that!

How would you sum up your 007: Road To A Million experience in three words?

BETH: Marvellous, mad and minted.

JEN: Life-changing adventure.

 

Joey And James

Joey (43) and James (37) are two highly competitive brothers from South London 

You finally got to meet all the other contestants at the premiere. How was that?

JAMES: It was a real pleasure to catch up with everyone. You’re so wrapped up in your own journey while you’re doing it so to have a night that brought everyone together was so lovely. We are the only people in the world who have got this shared experience at this stage.

JOEY: Put it this way: the two Scottish girls, Grace and Daniella, started a WhatsApp group and it’s red hot. 

What was your favourite location?

JOEY: Jamaica!

JAMES: Obviously the weather helped. It was chilled but it was rugged. We were in the Caribbean sea and we then went through the streets. It was just brilliant.

 Which was the most challenging location?

JOEY: Challenge wise, I would say probably Brazil. We had a three-day trek through the Amazon jungle which obviously brings trials and tribulations. We slept out under the stars and then we had to climb Sugarloaf Mountain. It felt like it was never ending. That was a long stint of the expedition.

JAMES: I’ve got to say the Alps. Walking up some of those mountains in about five feet of snow is no easy task.

How life-changing has it been winning thousands of pounds?

JOEY: It speaks for itself. You can do a hell of a lot with it, it’s been life changing for me.

JAMES: Yeah. I am about to pay off my student loan. Joe and I are both self-employed so it gives us a bit of breathing space. The whole thing was an experience we will treasure forever.

What was your favourite Bond Easter Egg in the series?

JAMES: The bar we went into in Jamaica was great. And then obviously me being on top of the cable car in Brazil, that’s a classic — a bit of a hairy experience.

JOEY: Just ripping around the Caribbean sea — you wouldn’t do that in everyday life. Or if you did, it would have cost you a fortune and we were doing it for free. It’s just fantastic.

What is your ultimate James Bond film?

JOEY: Skyfall. I like the way it goes back to basics. There’s not the crazy gadgets like in the previous films. It’s more about Bond himself.

JAMES: I’ve gone back and watched every James Bond film. I always loved the older ones growing up. I love Roger Moore because he’s brought a perfect British comic aspect to it but I really feel like the Daniel Craig films which are in a league of their own.

What advice would you give to contestants in the next series of Road To A Million?

JOEY: Try and be a little bit fit. You are not as fit as you think you are! Use each other’s knowledge and bounce off each other to analyse the question but don’t over analyse it.

JAMES: I’d say just take one step at a time. Don’t try and think too far ahead, just try and enjoy it. Don’t come out of it with any regrets.

How would you sum up your Road To A Million experience in just three words?

JOEY: Best. Thing. Ever.

 

Kamara And Josh

Married couple Kamara (30) and Josh (42) met as youth workers in their local community. Parents to three young children.

What did you learn about each other during the adventure?

KAMARA: I know this is going to sound really gooey and cliché but it was his love for me, in terms of knowing he’s got my back. I think that was something that I needed to be reminded of. He’s 100% into making sure our relationship works, we are stronger and achieve our goals. I think before, like any relationship, there’s umming and ahhing, but Road To A Million really solidified our relationship. Josh is mine, he’s my husband.

JOSH: For me, it was a catalyst to what I already knew about Kamara. We needed something to happen in our lives that would reinforce and re-engage what we knew about each other. We knew how much love we had for each other, how much trust we had for each other, but there was nothing to actually demonstrate that until this adventure happened. Our relationship was a bit sketchy before. This absolutely put us back in line, the trust element and the love that we have for each other.

What location was the most challenging?

JOSH: Every stage was really challenging for me, because they read my profile. They knew my biggest fear was height. And most of the activities did involve some kind of height. I was like, “Really? Seriously?” In Chile, we were tasked to ascend one of the volcanoes, and I had every single emotion you can imagine. I laughed hysterically. I had to keep telling myself, “You got this Josh, keep going”. That experience will live with me until the day I die.

How life changing has winning the money been?

KAMARA: We don’t want to use that money in a silly manner in terms of splashing the cash. That’s not what we’re like. The money will be something to help us continue to build on.

What do you think you learn about yourself on this adventure?

KAMARA: I’ve learned to trust my decision making, and be a bit more confident in myself and our relationship as well.

JOSH: I’ve got these cobwebs that are all about self-doubt. I think I’ve got rid of some of them. There might be a few still lingering, but this experience certainly brushed away those cobwebs. I’m a lot more confident. There used to be a rigorous risk management process before I tackled anything, but now it’s like, “Just do it, Josh”.

 

Keith And Nick

Keith (54) and Nick (54) are two retired police officers.

How was the 007: Road To A Million premiere?

KEITH: I’m still pinching myself. Being such a huge fan of the franchise to meet Barbara Broccoli was like meeting royalty.

NICK: It was very surreal meeting the other contestants. There was a bond when we walked in that room, even though we’d never met any of them. I know that sounds really bonkers but that bond was born from this unique thing we’ve all experienced.

What did you learn about each other during the adventure?

NICK: Keith snores!

Is there any sense this experience changed your relationship?

KEITH: It’s made it stronger.

NICK: Yep, if anything, it strengthened what we knew about each other.

What were the most memorable locations and challenges?

NICK: Scotland. I have a love of the mountains, the open space and to be pushed in an environment that I love, you couldn’t ask for more than that.

KEITH. I loved the scenery and the fact that within ten minutes of starting Nick managed to fall over. It was like, “Is this really how it’s going to be?” Also just looking at it screams Skyfall. If you had to pick an iconic location, Skyfall was it for me.

What is your ultimate favourite James Bond film?

NICK: I love the old ones, Sean Connery’s and Roger Moore’s, because they’re very suave and sophisticated. And there was an element to them that was fantastical. But then you’ve got Daniel Craig’s that were gritty and have much more depth. I love them all.

KEITH: I’ve got so many. The Spy Who Loved Me was the first one I saw when I was a child, so that’s always held a special place in my heart. Goldeneye, when I saw 007 going off that dam, I thought, “This is Bond”. And any of the Daniel Craig films. It sounds really daft, but I’m only a few months younger than Daniel Craig so he almost became like a wardrobe consultant for me. If he can get away with wearing it, I can get away with wearing it.

NICK: We’ve suggested that me and Keith would be pretty good for Bond: The Retirement Years.

KEITH: Or at least just henchman number two.

How would you sum up your 007: Road To A Million experience in three words?

KEITH: Hard. Fun. Amazing.

NICK: Challenging. Fantastic. Fun.

 

 

Sana And Saiqa

Siblings Sana (24), a process engineer, and Saiqa (23), a fraud analyst.

What did you learn about each other during the adventure?

SAIQA: Sana’s really good under pressure. She definitely carried us to the end. She’s not the most athletic person but she really pushes through. She keeps herself composed and manages the pressure really well. I’ve definitely learnt to be more calm minded because of her. I’m never going to say that ever again.

SANA: You’ve got that recorded, right? 

Has the experience changed your relationship in any way?

SAIQA: We’ve both realised the scope of what we’re capable of doing if we work together. There’s so many other experiences that we don’t want life to get in the way of. I think that’s one thing that this show has taught us: keeping time for this stuff is really important. You don’t see people who look like us on TV very often. The response that we’ve already received from our family and friends has been so inspiring and encouraging.

SANA: We’ve grown to a point where we’ve been doing our own things in our lives. On the show there were so many highs and lows, it was like a secret that only we had between ourselves. It brought us really close together.

What is your ultimate James Bond film?

SAIQA: We are the Skyfall generation. We don’t know the previous films but our grandfather talks about them a lot. When we came back from the premiere, and we told him that we met Barbara Broccoli, he was like, “You met Barbara Broccoli?” So, he’s an absolute fanatic. 

SANA: When we were younger we used to dress up as James Bond. We used to have our own secret language at home growing up. We were very much into that whole spy thing.

Now that you’ve been in a James Bond adventure, what advice would you have for other teams in future series?

SAIQA: The advice that we could give you is not going to match what’s actually going to happen because they will put you in situations that are out of your comfort zone. You should expect anything. Hit the gym. It’s definitely like a physical challenge.

SANA: Keep up to date on your general knowledge, especially in James Bond locations. Also pick a partner that you can go through everything and anything with.

How would you sum up your 007: Road To A Million experience in three words?

SAIQA: Outside comfort zone.

SANA: Mind-blowing. Although that’s only one compound word.

 

Grace And Daniella

Grace (31) and Daniella (30), two colleagues who met working in Scottish radio.

What are your most vivid memories of the premiere?

GRACE: Well, it was my first ever premiere so it was very glammy. Meeting Brian Cox was amazing.

DANIELLA: Brian Cox is a good Scottish man, He seems like he’s my Da. He was on very good form, looking very cool. His being connected to this series is crazy. 

What did you learn about each other during the adventure?

DANIELLA: Grace was strong enough and more than capable of doing these things.

GRACE: I learned nothing can make Daniella sad. She got midgey bites and looked so sore but she was laughing and giggling and still had the usual banter. She was the ray of sunshine you needed all the way through. I also learned if I ate more I wouldn’t be such a wee crabby thing.

How did your relationship change?

GRACE: We realised we can trust each other. At times I depended on her, at other times she depended on me. I also learned maybe we should open up to each other more. There’s stuff I didn’t know about her because I got to know her in a work capacity.

DANIELLA: I agree. That deep-rooted personal connection was perhaps something we glossed over in the past.

What was your favourite Bond Easter Egg in the series?

GRACE: We were on the roof of the museum in Venice and we could see the whole landscape, from the boats to all the tourists. That just felt like something straight out of a James Bond film.

DANIELLA: I thought our second day in Scotland was the most James Bond-y. We had to hijack a Land Rover, break into a castle, navigate our way through the gardens, track down an ancient house and break into it. That was fairly James Bond.

What’s your ultimate James Bond film?

DANIELLA: Daniel Craig ones. He brought the franchise more up to date.

GRACE: Probably one of the earlier ones from the ‘60s, maybe Goldfinger. That’s what I remember watching with my granddad and uncle when I was younger.

What did you learn about yourself?

GRACE: That I shouldn’t take life too seriously. I think the whole reason I went into this show was because I constantly work. I never do anything for me. So I learned to just do something a bit spontaneous, crazy and fun. Life’s too short is the lesson I’ve taken from this whole series.

DANIELLA: For me, it would be to trust myself. I went into it with all this pressure. I want to carry Scotland, I want to carry women, I want to do it for my family. I should have just been having a laugh with my pal but I just had this big backpack of responsibility on the whole time. I learned I should just do things for me, not in a selfish way, and just trust myself.

 

Danny And Colin

Danny (41) and Colin (51), two self-prescribed “brothers from another mother”. 

What are your most vivid memories of the premiere?

DANNY: It was fantastic. I’ve never been part of a premiere before.

COLIN: It’s not a normal Thursday evening when you are standing around at a party at Battersea Power Station and Barbara Broccoli comes over and starts chatting to you and your wife.

What did you learn about each other during the adventure?

DANNY: I learned two things. The first being we both like each other’s company. We were spending 24 hours a day with each other, sleeping in the same room. I learned that we’re very similar. The second thing would be how supportive Colin is. I never felt like I was a spare part. I always felt part of the adventure I was on. I think that’s a great leadership trait.

COLIN: I learned Danny is very curious about people. The other thing was watching him stepping up to the plate with some of these challenges. Watching him deal with them and grow was quite inspiring. I was proud of him.

What was the most difficult challenge?

COLIN: The producers know how to prey on your weaknesses. So, for me, water is not my thing.

DANNY: It was heights when we went to Turkey. I don’t like them. 

What was your favourite James Bond Easter Egg?

DANNY: I don’t know anything about James Bond so it was Colin who pointed out, “This is what happened in this film or that film.”

COLIN: I was geeking out all over the place. We’re standing outside the door of a hotel in Turkey. I was like, “This is where he comes out in Skyfall.” Every location just gave me goosebumps. I suppose the main one was being in Scotland. The road to Skyfall was on the bucket list and then we just got dropped off there in the middle of nowhere. That was a good one.

What is the ultimate James Bond film?

COLIN: I don’t have a favourite. I’m a Craig, Connery and Dalton fan. I prefer the hard-edge stuff. This interview is a full circle moment for me because my brother-in-law sent me some Dr. No casino chips that he bought for me from 007.com. I went to the website to have a look and that was where I saw the details of 007: Road To A Million. 

What did you learn about yourself during this process?

DANNY: We’ve got to try and take as many experiences as we can with the time we’ve got. I learned that the next holiday that I’ll go on is not going to be in a hotel where it’s all inclusive. I’m going to do something that’s not conventional. I’m going to do something that takes me out of my comfort zone.

COLIN: If you do the same thing over and over, you don’t grow. Whereas, if you put yourself in these situations and give it your all, you find out more about yourself.

How would you sum up your 007 Road To A Million experience in three words?

DANNY: Relationships. Experience. Uncomfortable.

COLIN: Experience. Resilience. Adventure.

 

James And Sam

James (50) and Sam (21) are a father and son team.

What were your most vivid memories of the premiere?

SAM: Oh, it was absolutely amazing. It blew our socks off. We were expecting maybe a couple of cameras but then there was a helicopter parked outside in front of us. And then Barbara Broccoli came up to us with open arms like she had known us for years. It was out of this world.

What was favourite location, and which was the most challenging?

JAMES: My particular favourite was when we spent an entire day and night crossing the Atacama desert in Chile, watching the sun go down. It was so humbling just to see a spectacular sunset and feel so isolated in the middle of nowhere.

SAM: The most challenging one was the time trial in Italy. It was a race against the clock. That was after we had just finished the F1 at Monza. It was like we actually got a taste of being Bond. It was nuts.

Do you think it changed your relationship in any way?

JAMES: It brought us to a deeper level. I’ve always had a relationship with my son where he’s been my child. But he’s not a child anymore, he’s a young man. So, given the opportunity to spend so much time together, I feel like the show brought the relationship from a father’s relationship with his child to an old man’s relationship with a young adult.

SAM: I’ve always idolised my dad. I guess I just got to see the adventurous side of him. I hope we can do more stuff like this really. 

What was your favourite Bond Easter Egg in the series?

SAM: James Bond has three main tropes: cars, watches, and expensive drinks. Whether it was driving a classic Jag around Lake Como, sipping Bollinger out of the bottle or wearing OMEGA watches in awesome locations, we got to experience every last bit of it. It was just too cool.

JAMES: For me the most iconic Bond moment was when we hit this location beacon in the desert that features in Spectre, it calls in the cavalry, and we were just waiting. In the morning, as the sun’s coming up, we see this cloud of smoke in the distance. As it gets closer and closer this Rolls Royce with a chauffeur pulls up. He opens the door and doesn’t say a word. That was the most iconic Bond moment. 

What is your ultimate James Bond film?

JAMES: I’m a real Sean Connery fan. It was a very different kind of James Bond character from the ones that followed. Having said that, I am also like Timothy Dalton.  So, I’m torn between any of the Sean Connery ones and The Living Daylights.

SAM: I’m going to say Daniel Craig fan because he’s the Bond that I grew up with.

What did you learn about yourselves during this session?

JAMES: I’m at a stage in life where I’ve reached the pinnacle of my career. I’m over the hill in terms of my age, and going on this adventure showed me there’s still a bit of fight in the old pup yet. I’ve still got plenty of adventure left in me. In fact, Sam has been saying to me, “Dad, this is just the beginning.” I’m up for that.

 

Tanaka And James

Old school friends Tanaka (28) and James (28).

What were your favourite locations during the adventure?

TANAKA: Scotland was really nice. We went to the Isle of Skye. We were really lucky with the weather, it was really beautiful. It was a hiking challenge where we had to navigate instructions and then we went in a rowing boat. Fortunately, James was able to lead the way on the rowing boat because I didn’t have a clue. Then he had to jump into a pool.

JAMES: It was the coldest water I’ve ever touched in my life. The case I had to retrieve was so heavy as well. Tanaka didn’t help me!

TANAKA: I was cheering you on. I was lifting the case in spirit.

What did you learn about each other during the adventure?

TANAKA: I learnt that he can row a boat. I think if James wants to do something, he can do it. 

JAMES: Tanaka’s like my right hand. I feel like I know him very well, we’re very similar.

What was your favourite Bond Easter Egg in the series?

TANAKA: It felt most like James Bond before filming even started. When we got to the airport, everything was secret. They took our phones off us and then we were sent to this house in the middle of nowhere. I thought this was basically survival mode, anything could happen to us.

JAMES: When we got in the taxi to go to the first place, the person who was transitioning us didn’t want us to know anything. I asked the taxi driver how long the journey would be and he said, “Two hours.” That’s when I knew we were in for an adventure.

What is your ultimate James Bond film?

TANAKA: I’d say Die Another Day. I think that was the one that when I was younger I was able to watch properly and understand what was going on.

JAMES: My favourite James Bond was Pierce Brosnan.

TANAKA: He was probably the Bond of our generation growing up.

Now that you’ve been in a James Bond adventure, what advice would you have for other teams in a potential future series?

TANAKA: Don’t stress, just have fun. The money is not yours. What is money at the end of the day? It’s about having a good time with your friend or relative.

JAMES: Respect the camera crew. I felt like we were one big family. The crew were so funny. They made loads of jokes and we gave them a bit of banter. I would love to meet them again.

Bond And The Macallan’s Shared Scottish Heritage

Posted by

James Bond and The Macallan are bound together by a shared Scottish heritage. In a video series from the master whisky distillers directed by Angelica Zollo, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli discuss Bond’s Scotland.

“His Scottish roots were really fundamental to who he was as a character,” Broccoli explains of James’ upbringing at Skyfall Lodge. “When it got to the point in the story where Bond had to find the most remote place where he could keep M safe, he thought about his childhood home.”

The new video series marks the latest collaboration between 007 and The Macallan. Last October for Bond’s 60th anniversary, a limited edition collection of six bottles was released each detailing a different decade of 007 with bespoke imagery.

The official whisky partner of the James Bond franchise, The Macallan featured in Skyfall and Spectre.

Bond’s Scotland

Posted by

From the Highlands to the Lowlands, Scotland has always had a special place in the heart of the James Bond franchise. Not only is it the homeland of Sean Connery who first brought 007 to life, but its rugged landscapes and historic castles have served as the backdrop for some of the most memorable moments across many of the Bond movies.

Cairngorms National Park – No Time To Die

Tension reaches a high point in No Time To Die when Bond (Daniel Craig) is alerted that Safin’s henchman Logan Ash (Billy Magnus) is nearby. A high-stakes car chase ensues, featuring Bond, Madeleine (Léa Seydoux), and their daughter Mathilde, escalating further when Madeleine and Mathilde are kidnapped, leaving Bond distraught. Though framed as the Norwegian countryside, the chase was actually filmed on Ardverikie Estate, within Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park. This park is the UK’s largest national park, and home to one-quarter of Scotland’s native forest. The Cairngorms portion of this sequence was shot from July 17th to August 2nd, while the forest section of the sequence took place at Buttersteep Forest, Windsor Great Park from August to October.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SPjEQZt91WohoQ2S8

Glen Coe & Glen Etive – Skyfall

Bond (Daniel Craig) and M (Judi Dench) embark on a journey through the Scottish Highlands to evade Silva in Skyfall. Their drive takes them along the A82, framed by the impressive peaks of Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag in Glen Coe. The duo seeks refuge in Bond’s family home, Skyfall Lodge, located in the neighboring Glen Etive. Bond Author Ian Fleming’s family had owned a lodge in Glen Etive, which neighbors Glen Coe, adding a layer of real-world connection to the film. These rural locations known for their rugged landscapes are within the region of Argyll in the Scottish Highlands. Although the home’s exteriors are set against the stunning landscapes of Scotland, the interiors were captured at Pinewood Studios in the weeks following the Highlands shoot. 

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fiPbxp7zf49UKPS97

Eilean Donan Castle – The World Is Not Enough

The first three weeks of filming for The World Is Not Enough included scenes set in M’s office and the MI6 briefing room, both appear to be situated within Eilean Donan Castle, which served as Thane Castle, the film’s Scottish MI6 headquarters. In one of these scenes, Q (Desmond Llewelyn) has a set of bagpipes with a hidden machine gun mechanism demonstrated to James Bond (Pierce Brosnan). A portrait of the original M (Bernard Lee) can also be found hanging behind the desk of the current M (Dame Judi Dench). The castle, strategically located on the small tidal island of Eilean Donan in Scotland’s Western Highlands, was once a pivotal fortification against Viking invasions, mirroring its cinematic role as a fortress for MI6 operations.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JPe8H3LRJ9BEocw17

Gare Loch – The Spy Who Loved Me 

In The Spy Who Loved Me a pivotal moment unfolds at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, situated on the eastern shore of Gare Loch in Argyll. Here, Bond (Roger Moore) dons a full navy uniform and discovers that British submarines have been targeted in a scheme by the villain Stromberg (Curd Jurgens). Adding a layer of authenticity, the loch runs from Helensburgh to Garelochhead and is perhaps most notable for being the home of the naval base Faslane.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2iqrpmemBVsRKC8p7

Lochgilphead – From Russia With Love

Bond (Sean Connery) finds himself in a sky-high showdown with a SPECTRE helicopter. The scene unfolds over Barrachuile Hill, north of Lochgilphead in Argyll, Scotland. Known for its stunning natural landscapes, Lochgilphead’s rolling hills and lush forests served as a breathtaking backdrop. The crew arrived in Lochgilphead on June 30 and faced a series of challenges, from bad weather to mechanical setbacks, before finally wrapping up the shoot on July 4.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/42TuQCZ2N9N3Q7dU9

Loch Craignish – From Russia With Love

In the From Russia With Love boat chase sequence, Bond (Sean Connery) and Russian agent Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) find themselves pursued by SPECTRE agents. Although the scene is set to occur off the Turkish coast, filming complications led to the decision to shoot the scene on Loch Craignish, near Crinan in Argyll, Scotland. The action kicks off at the pier of Lunga House and concludes in the waters of Loch Craignish. 

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BqACxbaRCvUTSNMR9

BOGNER x 007

Posted by

Performance sportswear brand BOGNER have unveiled their 2023 007 capsule collection.  The collection features complete ski outfits for men and women, as well as ski hardware and accessories.

Willy Bogner Junior coordinated the world’s first action ski scenes for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) and then went on to work on three more Bond productions, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), For Your Eyes Only (1981) and A View To Kill (1985).

“One day someone asked me on the phone if I wanted to be a cameraman on the next James Bond film,” Willy Bogner Jr recalled about the start of his Bond career. “When you get a call like that as a film amateur who never went to film school, you assume it’s a joke!”. The call was no joke as the caller turned out to be Albert R. Broccoli, and now over 50 years on, the partnership continues. 

Shop now.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BOGNER (@bogner.official)

Official 2023 Christmas Gift Guide Part 2

Posted by

We bring you more from the 2023 James Bond Christmas Guide, including a festive round-up of the best present ideas for kids, gifts to personalise, inspiration for the family and tree decorations.

For kids

The James Bond Playmobil set will give hours of ejector-action fun while Mathile’s hand knitted dou dou bunny and Steiff’s Bond teddy are must haves. If you want to keep them busy over the Christmas break, try a build-your-own model kit. They can piece together classic Bond vehicles, including the silver birch DB5, Moonraker shuttle and GoldenEye Tiger Eurocopter. Strategy lovers will enjoy the dastardly SPECTRE board game. How about a mini 007 t-shirt? Choose from a range of sizes, colours and designs for kids and teens, including Scaramanga’s flying car and ‘The next 007’. James Bond chocolate bars from Charbonnel et Walker are alway well received, while a Secret Service iD card will give any junior agent authentic credentials.   

Personalised gifts

Make it unique with a 007-inspired present bearing their name or initials. For 2023, new 007 leather luggage tags may be personalised in a range of colours, including red and sky blue. Want something a little darker? Choose a personalised SPECTRE accessory. Make your mark on Christmas Day with a SPECTRE bag tag, embossed card holder or A5 notebook. Or elevate their next journey with a travel-themed 007 gift. Get them ready for action with a red leather travel wallet featuring double zips for money, cards and passport, or a personalised leather and suede accessories case to keep their Omega, cufflinks and jewellery safe at home and away. Games lovers will enjoy the personalised leather 007 poker set, while martini makers will appreciate a monogrammed 007 cocktail shaker to add to their bar. 

For the family

Get puzzling in unique style with Bond-shaped pieces in the new wooden jigsaws range. Take to the skies with the 250 piece set, featuring The Man With The Golden Gun’s iconic AMC Hornet corkscrew jump in Thailand. Bring the family together for games night with 007 Cluedo, Bond Bingo or Monopoly, or test each other on Bond gadgets with Q Branch Top Trumps. A 2024 wall calendar will help map out the year in style, or treat them to a perfect movie night with some 007 martini popcorn and a boxset. The holiday break is the perfect excuse to restock the library with essential Bond books. There’s always more to discover with Taschen’s The James Bond Archives Book, which shares the detail behind the detail, and covers the 61-year history of the film series – now in four languages. 

For the tree

Handmade, embroidered and beaded, the James Bond tree decorations bring iconic elements of the Bond universe to your festivities. The union jack parachute and yellow ski suit pay homage to The Spy Who Loved Me’s opening stunt. The Bond crest calls up the history of the family, while 007’s black silk bow tie and sparkling martini glass draw on high octane evenings. Dial up the stakes with Bond’s winning cards of Texas Hold’em poker and the 100,000 euro casino chip, both from the Casino Royale in Montenegro, or step into the shadows with a shimmering black SPECTRE symbol. Three new designs are launching this Christmas so watch out for James Bond in black tie, Blofeld’s white cat and the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service skiing James, coming soon.

See the complete range at 007Store.com.

007: Road To A Million Premiere In London

Posted by

Last night, attendees walked the carpet at London’s Battersea Power Station in celebration of the launch of Prime Video’s adventure series 007: Road To A Million. The show sees contestants competing in pairs on a global adventure to win the ultimate prize of £1million.

Brian Cox – who stars in the series as The Controller – was joined by EON Productions’ Barbara Broccoli and Gregg Wilson, 72 Films’ David Glover and the series director Julian Jones alongside all the contestants. A Q&A panel was hosted by Lauren Laverne following the screening of Episode 1.

The event showcased iconic Bond vehicles some of which have appeared in the series: the Jaguar C-X75 (Spectre), Triumph Scrambler (No Time To Die), Rolls Royce Wraith Sedana (Spectre), Jaguar XKR (Die Another Day), Aston Martin DB5 (No Time To Die), alongside the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Car.

Guests were also invited to tackle challenges recreated from the series, with £1M of gold bullion cast bars provided by the Royal Mint, showcasing the incredible prize on offer. A fleet of Defenders transported creators through a series of missions and Bond inspired challenges across London ending up at the venue.

Brian Cox Talks 007: Road To A Million

Posted by

In a career that spans the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter and Logan Roy in Succession, Brian Cox’s latest role sees the actor move into unexplored territory. This time, he plays an enigmatic figure known as The Controller who operates at the centre of new Prime Video adventure series 007: Road To A Million. 

The opportunity to play The Controller has allowed Cox to tick off a key item on his acting To Do list. “Now I can finally say I’ve been in a Bond production. I’ve never been in a Bond movie, and I always thought I’d be a very good Bond villain.”

For EON Executive Producer Michael G. Wilson, Cox is the perfect casting as The Controller, a Machiavellian overseer of the game who needed to combine both a sense of seriousness and mischief. “Brian Cox is the ideal puppet master for our contestants,” says Wilson. “As The Controller, he orchestrates the series’ challenges while enjoying watching the contestants squirm.”

007: Road To A Million is an epic adventure series following nine pairs of contestants who attempt to win £1 million by competing in James Bond-inspired challenges all around the globe. From the highlands of Scotland to the streets of Venice and majestic Swiss Alps, the challenges take place in 007 locations with the physical and mental tests pushing the teams to the limit — just one wrong step and the mission is terminated.

At the heart of the game is The Controller, the mastermind who sets ten challenges and questions, not making things easy for the contestants because he hates giving away money when the participants get the answer right.

“The Controller is a shadowy figure in the background who has created this game for his sport,” says John Douglas, Creative Director of 72 Films, co-producers on the project with Amazon MGM Studios and EON Productions. “He has chosen the people he wants to go through this game, he’s watching them on screens from his lair, but they go through the game only ever hearing his voice.”

“Like all great Bond villains, The Controller has a love of specialist knowledge,” explains David Glover, Founder & CEO of 72 Films. “Bond villains will often tell Bond all about the piranha fish that’s about to eat him or the wine he is drinking.”

Furthermore, The Controller shares many characteristics that puts him in a long line of unforgettable 007 nemeses. “He’s quite dark and sinister, but he also has a dark sense of humour,” says Douglas. “He’s a little like Blofeld or one of those very classic Bond villains who has a huge interest in the world. Our questions reflect that classic character, I think in the same way that Blofeld had a huge amount of knowledge about quite specific things, our questions are often quite specialist.”

When it came to finding an actor to play The Controller, there was only one choice.

“I’m honestly so glad it’s Brian,” says David Glover. “I read the reaction to his casting on a Bond fan site and someone wrote, ‘He’s the best Bond villain that’s never been’. I think that’s absolutely right. He feels very good as a Bond villain; he’s a nice fit. He’s got an intensity but a playfulness too which feels right. And of course, he’s got Hollywood gravitas and a great voice.”

As a proud Scot, Cox’s favourite 007 was only ever going to be one portrayal. “It has to be Sean Connery,” he says. “I always thought it was so ironic that Sean [Cox imitates him perfectly] short of talksh like thish and he doesn’t sound like he’s from Gordonstoun! The real James Bond would have been frightfully, frightfully posh, not like Sean at all. So that was wonderful to see. I was extremely proud that another Scot had fooled everybody to such distraction that they cast him in a wonderful lead role, and he brought something unique to it.”

Cox’s Scottish connection also added another reason to why the actor is the perfect presence to embody The Controller. “We start our journey in Scotland and of course Brian is Scottish, but then it rolls out all over the world and he has international power too,” says David Glover.

While the role of The Controller is pivotal to 007: Road To A Million, Cox sees the true appeal of the show lies with the contestants his character is manoeuvring around the world. “The more idiosyncratic the candidates are, it creates a lot of fun,” he says. “That will be the strength of the show. There are other shows with fantastic casting, but what’s different about this is the Bond theme and those two aspects alongside each other mean it will work very strongly.”

Watch 007: Road To A Million only on Prime Video from Friday 10 November 2023.

MORE: Meet the 007: Road To A Million Contestants

Meet The 007: Road To A Million Contestants

Posted by

Nine pairs of everyday people face the ultimate test in physical and mental endurance in 007: Road To A Million, an epic global adventure competition with a James Bond twist. And the prize? A life-changing £1 million.

Pairs of contestants from all backgrounds travel the globe facing challenges and fiendish questions set by The Controller, played by Brian Cox, a mysterious mastermind who loves to watch the participants struggle. Each correct answer unlocks a sum of money and a new mission for the team. A wrong answer spells the end of the game.

MORE: Brian Cox talks 007: Road To A Million

“Our contestants represent a diverse cross-section of the UK,” says Gregg Wilson. “The unique pairs, ranging from families and friends to co-workers, are bound by genuine relationships, which lend an emotional depth to their journey. Each pair competes for a life-altering sum, adding even more stakes to their adventure.”

Here are the nine couples taking part in 007: Road To A Million…

James (37) and Joey (43)
Relationship: Brothers

James is a self-described “copy writer by day and musician by night”. Joey runs his own electrician business. The highly competitive siblings joined the show for a chance to recapture the fun of their youth before responsibilities took hold. For all their rivalries, they are bound by a love of Chelsea football club.

Beth (46) and Jen (41)
Relationship: Friends

Two medical workers with equally challenging experiences. Jen joined the RAF and worked in Afghanistan bringing home injured soldiers and provided medical care in Kabul, Christmas Island and Guyana. Beth has provided emergency care internationally, including working in expedition medicine with ultra-marathon runners in the Amazon and the Arctic Circle. Nothing will phase them.

Kamara (30) and Josh (42)
Relationship: Couple

Having met working as youth workers in their local community, Kamara and Josh bonded over travel, anthropology and an interest in different cultures. Kamara is a daring risk-taker. Josh is a methodical planner. As parents to three children under five, taking part in the show is a chance to celebrate themselves as a couple and re-engage with their passions.

Saiqa (23) and Sana (24)
Relationship: Sisters

Sana is a process engineer and Saiqa is a fraud analyst. The former displays grace under pressure, the latter is good with people. They are the youngest in the game but have a keen sense of general knowledge that belies their age. Their hope is to create long lasting memories for themselves.

James (50) and Sam (21)
Relationship: Father and Son

This father-son team share a close bond, although dad James has missed a lot of Sam’s childhood working away on an oil rig and wants to make up for lost time. James is adaptable with great leadership skills while Sam is a deep thinker and ‘the calm one’. Travelling the world has been a long-held dream but also offers a chance to reconnect.

Keith (54) and Nick (54)
Relationship: Former Colleagues

Described as “peas in a pod”, Keith and Nick are two retired police officers and their goal on the show is to recapture their glory days. Their motto may be ‘Take nothing seriously’ but their life experience and ability to stay cool in a crisis means they are not to be under-estimated.

Danny (41) and Colin (51)
Relationship: Friends

Friends for ten years, Danny and Colin met through their partners and connected over the fact that their fathers came from the same parish in Jamaica. Danny is level-headed and resourceful, Colin can improvise off-the-cuff solutions, even if he tends to question his decision making. They see the show as a way to both test themselves and go on a journey with their best friend.

Grace (31) and Daniella (30)
Relationship: Friends

Grace and Daniella met working as runners at Capital Radio Glasgow and both have turned this experience into successful broadcasting careers. Beyond work, Grace hosts a quiz three nights a week and brings the general knowledge. Daniela adds motivation and enthusiasm. Two proud Scots, they passionately want to represent their country as “wee Scottish lasses.”

Tanaka (28) and James (28)
Relationship: Friends

Two friends who met at school and have remained close ever since. Frequent travel companions, they’ve visited Brazil, South Africa and Colombia, they have opposite personalities: James takes risks, Tanaka will play it safe. But, together, they are passionate and motivated to win.

Official 2023 Christmas Gift Guide Part 1

Posted by

The holiday season is approaching and so it’s time for the 2023 James Bond Christmas gift guide. From collectibles to tree decorations, we’ve put together an edit of the best James Bond presents for the family. Welcome to part one.

Gifts for collectors

The half-size replica of Scaramanga’s iconic golden gun is a must-have for any collector’s shelf, while a bottle of numbered 007 rum, hand signed by Chris Blackwell, will evoke Bond’s spiritual home in Jamaica. Send them into orbit with the Moonraker laser gun replica, complete with a realistic blue light laser effect, or around the world with the new James Bond Destinations book by Assouline. Steiff’s collaboration with 007 now includes the Julius No and a musical Bond bear in bow tie and dinner suit. Both come with the trademark buttoned ear tab. Or let them recreate Bond and Le Chiffre’s game of Texas hold-em with the precious casino chip coins from The Perth Mint. Duesenberg’s David Arnold Edition 007 guitar is the ultimate collectible for music lovers. 

For men

Orlebar Brown’s new jacquard logo swim shorts add a dash of Bond elegance to pool-time. Try a set of silver or gold-plated cufflinks in a range of designs, or leather gloves inspired by On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, lined in soft cashmere. Style lovers will appreciate the’ unisex No.007 eau de parfum by Floris, new 007 heraldry embroidered socks by the London Sock Exchange or the Turnball & Asser Casino Royale silk bow tie. A crystal whisky tumbler from Bond’s Hotel Splendide bathroom, or the Cala Beach Bar scorpion drink set from Skyfall are a great way to toast the season. 

For women

Festive gifts for her include the new Skyfall stag storm globe, filled with Highland mist and glitter, or a pair of handmade Royale sunglasses by Barton Perreira. Add a dash of Bond style to her next adventure with a personalised travel wallet or luggage tag in a choice of coloured leathers, or a pair of luxurious winter boots by Bogner, lined in soft shearling. A pine green Chilly’s water bottle is ready for anything. The new SPECTRE coasters are the perfect place for a dry martini while enjoying the festivities with a box of Charbonnel et Walker martini truffles.

Stay tuned for part two of the guide which covers gifts for kids, the family and the tree. See the complete range at 007Store.com.

 

Quantum Of Solace At 15

Posted by

October 29th 2008 saw the London premiere of Quantum of Solace. The follow up to Casino Royale (2006) sees Bond, still shaken from the death of Vesper Lynd, uncover a sinister organisation called QUANTUM, later revealed as a subsidiary of SPECTRE. The story jumps from Italy to Haiti to Austria to Bolivia as 007 thwarts eco-terrorist Dominic Greene’s plans to take over an entire country, while still investigating the reasons behind Vesper’s betrayal. To mark its 15th anniversary, this is the behind-the-scenes story of the 22nd EON James Bond adventure…

A Series First

Quantum of Solace became the first direct sequel to an EON 007 film, picking up just ten minutes after the events of Casino Royale with a high-octane car chase shootout. Initially the script had closer ties to its predecessor but after Academy Award winning writer Paul Haggis (Crash, Casino Royale) came on board, the script was developed to continue Bond’s personal arc and his search for answers after Vesper’s betrayal.

Finding A Director And Title

To direct the film, EON hired Marc Forster, who guided Halle Berry to an Oscar with Monster’s Ball. As well as his skill with actors, Forster brought an approach that combined the past and the present. “I wanted to go a little bit retro, to pay homage to the early design choices of Ken Adam and the thrillers of the ‘60s and ‘70s I loved so much,” he said. “I went back to these movies to absorb their look so I could create their feel but at the same time making it modern and cutting edge.”

On January 25th 2008 the film unveiled its title drawn from a 1960 Ian Fleming short story in which Bond is told an anecdote over dinner in Jamaica. “Ian Fleming always had an emotional line through his books,” recalled Daniel Craig. “Quantum of Solace is a moving story debating relationships and how they hurt. He suggests if you don’t have a quantum of solace in your relationship, you should give up.” 

Out For Revenge

“With Bond having fallen in love with Vesper, we had to come up with a different kind of female character,” said producer Barbara Broccoli. Haggis’ script delivered Camille Montes (played by French-Ukrainian actor Olga Kurylenko), a Bolivian intelligence agent who teams up with Bond but with her own agenda — to avenge the death of her family at the hands of former Bolivian dictator General Medrano (Joaquín Cosío). “Camille mirrored Bond’s problem; she too was seeking revenge. There is a strong emotional, rather than sexual relationship,” said Broccoli.  

Camille’s vendetta against Medrano brings her and Bond into the orbit of the film’s true antagonist Dominic Greene. Played by French actor Mathieu Amalric, Greene is a high-level operative of QUANTUM masquerading as a benevolent eco-entrepreneur. His plot, in league with Medrano, is to withhold Bolivia’s water supply underground with the idea of using it as leverage to run the entire country. With a plan rooted in current concerns, Greene represented a very modern nemesis, one the actor found daunting. 

“I asked Marc, ‘Can I shave my head or have a scar or something to help me,” said Amalric. “He said, ‘No, just your eyes, that’s enough.” So that was scary, the responsibility of not being disappointing as a villain and not being lost in the crowd.” 

Setting A New Record

With the key cast on board, the production was literally off to the races, sending 10 cameras to capture footage of the Palio di Sena horse race in August 2007. Quantum of Solace started principal photography on January 3rd 2008. “The film had 13 weeks of location shooting out of 22 weeks,” remembered producer Michael G. Wilson. “It was the greatest percentage of location work we’d ever done a film.” The main unit started filming in London and travelled to 5 other countries: Panama, Chile, Mexico, Italy and Austria. 

Immediate Action

Quantum of Solace begins with action from the get-go with a high-speed pursuit around Lake Garda. The scene utilised seven versions of Bond’s Aston Martin DBS and eight of the chasing Alfa Romeos. Other set-pieces included a rooftop foot-chase in Siena – Craig himself performed a leap from a three-storey window onto a moving bus – a fight dangling from ropes in an art gallery and a speedboat sequence shot in Colón doubling for Haiti. Exciting and imaginative, the spectacle was still rooted in the real world, a philosophy Barbara Broccoli attributed to her star. “One of the reasons we had much more realistic action was because Daniel was able and wanted to do it,” she said. “When your leading-man does it, then everyone follows suit.”

Sky-fall

Surveying QUANTUM’s intended land acquisition by air, Bond and Camille’s vintage DC-3 comes under attack from a Bolivian black Marchetti plane and helicopter, forcing the pair to skydive into a sinkhole. The freefall itself was performed at Bodyflight, the world’s biggest indoor skydiving school. Rather than hang actors from greenscreen, Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko performed in a wind tunnel facing winds of up to 165mph, the footage then composited against sky and terrain. The whole sequence was choreographed and shot in just one day.  

A Nod To The Past

Bond arrives in Bolivia and is greeted by rookie MI6 agent Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton). After being seduced by Bond, Fields is killed by QUANTUM, drowned in crude oil. This sticky end is a direct homage to the murder of Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) in Goldfinger, who is found dead, covered head to foot in gold. To recreate the moment exactly, Forster constantly referred on set to the shot of Eaton but it was more than just fan service. “Ultimately, oil is the gold of today,” recalled the director, “and I thought having her lay there in oil would work for the story.”

A Fiery Finale

The explosive climax of Quantum of Solace takes place at Greene’s stronghold and was shot at the extraordinary European Southern Observatory and hotel complex in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. While the production created a portion of the facility in the desert in order to burn it down, the interiors were created by taking over all six stages at Pinewood Studios. In a period of just 12 days, Chris Corbould’s special effects unit set off 54 controlled explosions, six cameras primed to capture the inferno.

Mean and Lean

Echoing Bond’s stripped back sense of purpose following the loss of Vesper, Quantum of Solace is the shortest 007 film in the series, coming in at under two hours. The film’s title song was written by The White Stripes’ Jack White who performed the theme with Alicia Keys. “The song ‘Another Way To Die’ is about trust,” said White. “After reading the script, I started to focus on Bond and his inability to trust anyone, even himself.”

Quantum of Solace had its royal world premiere on 29th October 2008 at the Odeon Leicester Square and would go on to earn a phenomenal box office gross of $586 million, the highest to date for a 007 film. With Bond realising the limits of revenge, it stands as an important stage in Daniel Craig’s evolution of the character. Next up: Skyfall.

Available to buy: James Bond Daniel Craig Quantum of Solace t-shirt £29.00 and Quantum of Solace Blu-ray £15.

Bond In Motion In Prague

Posted by

Bond in Motion is now open at Křižík Pavilions, Prague, Czechia, until April 1st 2024. Previously held in Brussels, Belgium, the exhibition covers six decades of 007 history and includes over 75 vehicles. 

Two exciting travel experiences are available to enjoy your visit in signature 007 style. The 007 Weekend package includes VIP tickets to the exhibit plus a one night stay at Grand Hotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary, as featured in Casino Royale. You can also book a ride to Bond in Motion in a Land Rover Defender 007 from No Time To Die.

Every ticket purchased will enter you into a special prize draw for the chance to win: Two Aston Martin VIP weekend paddock tickets for the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix 2024; a two day trip to the Triumph factory in England; A Triumph Tiger 900 James Bond super limited edition motorcycle; and five weekends for two people to the Grand Hotel Pupp.

Bond in Motion’s new location was announced at the British Embassy in Prague with Maryam d’Abo in attendance, who played Kara in The Living Daylights. Maryam was reunited with the Aston Martin V8 featured in the film. The exhibition opened on December 7th.

Book your tickets now at www.bondinmotion.cz.