Licence To Queer (LicenceToQueer)

A hairy Russian 007, a fishy megalomaniac and and a queerly horrifying man mountain with metal teeth.

The book's General Gogol equivalent is a far less lovely character than the film's. And there goes Moneypenny being over-efficient as usual.

Paul Baker is the author of the bestselling 'CAMP! The Story of the Attitude that Conquered the World'. Not only is the book fabulously funny but it also successfully captures what camp is all about (not a mean feat!) using a plethora of brilliant examples. There's only one problem: there's no way Paul could include everyone's favourite examples and only bits of one of the most camp things of all time - James Bond - made it into the book. David and Paul meet to put Bond in the camp spotlight.

While Antony and David really enjoyed 007: Road to a Million and are looking forward to the next series, they both choose three things which they think could make the show even better for all audiences, including the hardcore James Bond fans.

Contains spoilers for the whole series.

“It shook my foundations. I flipped from being someone that was 'Just get on with it' to a person who felt far more empathy, understanding not everyone has the tools to be able to 'Just get on with it'.” - Natasha Stone Arm yourself because no one else here will save you? It’s a brilliant song lyric, but how far does being self-reliant really help us? When is the time to call for reinforcements? And how do we find the words when social norms tell us to keep things inside, especially if we’re men? All of these questions and more get answers in this chat, which has its origins off the back of a heated Bond Book club debate. When they got together, now over a year ago, to discuss Natasha’s first reading of Fleming’s Casino Royale, David and Natasha had wildly diverging views of the character of Bond: Natasha felt Bond was too needy and ‘unmasculine’ whereas David found his vulnerability role model-worthy. With unflinching honesty, Natasha traces her ideas about masculinity back to early childhood, when she formed a fantasy of the ideal man being of the ‘Alpha’ variety. A defining moment of Natasha’s childhood was her mother - an incredibly strong woman - having a nervous breakdown. This formed her earliest ideas about mental health. Her self-created ‘inner steel’ helped steer her through very difficult times, including finding herself unexpectedly pregnant while at university. And then, two decades later, a shocking tragedy completely shook Natasha’s foundations and upended her perspective on masculinity and mental health. “Boys will smile, even when they’re in complete turmoil.” - Natasha Stone A mother of four boys and one girl, Natasha shares her insights into the importance of communication for ensuring mental wellbeing, particularly for young men. David opens up about the ways we can make a difference, using examples from his professional life as an educator. Ultimately, they agree that the key is finding a middle ground between being self-reliant and knowing when to call for support. They link everything back to Bond books and films, and specifically the song ‘You Know My Name’. Finally, they share some pearls of wisdom from Bond Girl/force of nature Martine Beswicke. Natasha mentions fundraising for mental health charity CALM, which you can find out more about here: https://www.thecalmzone.net/

This episode is also available as a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T0oz1O9yjU

Award-winning Bond author Kim Sherwood and Licence to Queer's David Lowbridge-Ellis sit down to watch together the Bond film appearances of Kim's grandfather, George Baker - the man who Fleming wanted to play Bond.

More than a decade after his passing, George remains a household name in the UK, immediately familiar to generations of film and TV viewers - especially Bond fans. Although his screen time in the Bond series is relatively svelte, he leaves a lasting impression in two very different roles: the no-nonsense Captain Benson in The Spy Who Loved Me and the comically fusty brass-rubbing genealogist Sir Hilary Bray in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Which of these roles was closest to the real George? Kim shares her unique insights.

In On Her Majesty's Secret Service, George Baker also revoiced George Lazenby for around a third of the film. Baker himself said he found dubbing Lazenby "extraordinary", not least of all because he would have played James Bond himself if Ian Fleming had got his own way. Kim and David explore in detail how George almost became Bond and also the lesser known parts of his legacy: how he was not just an actor but a poet and award-winning playwright; how he was a British icon who was actually born in Bulgaria (and he could still speak the language until his final days); how he might have been a spy using his acting roles as cover!; how he earned a reputation as a ladies' man while being someone who was very vocal towards any institution which discriminated against women (this film contains some strong language!). And of course, Kim shares how much of an influence George had - and continues to have - on her own life and work.

As usual with Kim and David, the chat ranges far and wide. Expect discussion of:

- The merits of DVD menus

- The complexities of keeping the British end up

- Tweed (See: #SirHilaryBrayDay)

- Accents! Accents! Accents! (And more accents!)

And: an accidental recreation of Lethal Weapon.

What's up with Largo ordering champagne as his plot crashes and burns?!

What's 'camp' about camp collars?

A Dr Who reference?!

Red rubber, really James?

And are those mermaids in love???

According to Die Another Day costume artist and gay Bond fan Patrick Whitaker, this is “the Campest Bond movie that will ever be made” and I’m not inclined to disagree.

We all face societal pressure to prioritise relationships with blood relations over relationships with people to who we aren’t genetically connected. But, for some of us, this is not desirable or, as in Bond’s case, possible.

Even so, Bond is never truly alone.

With six articles (and counting) to Sam Rogers' name, exploring a range of subjects (from Bond Girls to Bond video games) I was keen to discuss with Sam if he'd had more thoughts about these subjects in a post-No Time To Die world. We talk about this and much much more, including finding your queer Bond fan tribe and which Sugababes track would make the best Bond song.

Antony and David take on the treasure-hunt experience across London with their friend Natasha Stone (aka The Red Vesper). What did they make of it? Join them before, during and after the adventure. (No spoilers)

Severine has attracted a great deal of attention from academics writing about James Bond, with many finding the character to be a regressive step for the series’ portrayal of female characters. But she is one of the most appealing elements of the film for many queer viewers. Although she is undoubtedly a tragic character, subject to the whims of a succession of men, she is not entirely disempowered.

007’s recent adventures have placed him at the centre of an ever-expanding ‘found family’. That is, ‘Individuals who are not biologically or legally related who deliberately choose to support and nurture each other like family.’ (Definition from The Queens’ English: The LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Expressions).

Anya's not the only woman on the scene. She's got tough competition from none other than the Queen!

Kim Sherwood's 'A Wild & True Relation' is an amazingly queer book. For Pride Month 2023, David Lowbridge-Ellis gets truthful with the Bond author about her 18th Century-set swashbuckler, examining how and why she created such a moving and rollicking tale of self-determination, freedom of sexual orientation, chosen family and defied gender expectations.

A gala fundraiser aboard HMS Belfast; an online event with Kim Sherwood exploring Bond and travel; the new Double-O novel gets its title and a sneak preview; Bond girls and singers sparkle in the V&A's stunning Divas exhibition; a memorable portrayal of Ian Fleming In the wonderful musical Operation Mincemeat and Antony gives his verdict on Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever after his first read. NB: Contains a discussion of a racial slur.

Kim Sherwood's A Spy Like Me had its official launch on Saturday 27th April at Dukes Hotel in London.

The event was a collaboration between 007GB - The British James Bond Fan Club, Ian Fleming Publications Limited and Harper Collins. It was my pleasure to be not only an organiser but also the emcee for the evening. The centrepiece of the event was a conversation between Kim and me with a follow-up Q&A. This is a recording of that. I hope you enjoy it.

More about the book

A Spy Like Me is the second novel in the Double O trilogy, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Double or Nothing. A Spy Like Me is even more tense than its predecessor. It’s both an addictively readable thriller and a work of great Literature.

How Kim achieved such a magnificent feat was explored at the launch, with David Lowbridge-Ellis MBE hosting the evening, conversing with Kim and taking questions from the audience.

Check out David's review of the book here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/book-review-a-spy-like-me

Watch David and Kim discussing other aspects of the novel in this series of Classified Chats:

https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/classified-chats-with-kim-sherwood

More about the launch event

The launch was a collaboration between 007GB - The British James Bond Fan Club, Ian Fleming Publications Limited and Harper Collins – the first time anything like this has happened.

We chose to have it at Dukes Hotel for reasons obvious to any Fleming fan; it’s practically a site of pilgrimage for us (Bond’s creator loved to drink at the sensational bar) and it has long associations with the character of 007.

Compared with a regular book launch, there was a more intimate, familial atmosphere. This was something we had planned for as soon as we were asked by Ian Fleming Publications and Harper Collins to collaborate with them. It’s unusual to have a book launch on a weekend, but having it on a Saturday meant it could be a more relaxed and convivial affair. It also meant more members from across the country could make it to London for the event. Some of our overseas members were also able to attend and it was lovely to have them there.

The evening began with a sumptuous wine reception and continued long after the official finish time. Representatives from the Fleming family, Ian Fleming Publications and Harper Collins mingled with club members, Kim’s family and invited guests. Fellow Bond author Charlie Higson was also in attendance; he asked a deliciously tongue in cheek question about the third book, which will be released in 2025. You can hear this - and all of the other questions - in this podcast.

In the latest instalment of their popular series uncovering how Bond films developed through the scripting process, Tom Mason and David Lowbridge-Ellis set their gunbarrel sights on The World Is Not Enough. Early versions of the script reveal significantly different locations, different action sequences, different characters and different versions of the infamous gag which brings the film to its memorable climax! Previous episodes (available on YouTube and wherever you find podcasts) have tackled early drafts of Diamonds Are Forever and The Spy Who Loved Me. Which film do you think Tom and David should do next?

We always wanted to have Christmas in Cuba! On the final full day of our holiday, we look back on the experiences we've had in Havana over the Christmas period, make several Bond connections and share some of the funny things that have happened along the way.

There's no intro or fancy editing for this episode as it was a nightmare just getting the computer to work in any way with the state wi-fi. So it's just the audio, recorded from the balcony of our hotel overlooking the sea.

David and Antony discuss Michelle Yeoh's Oscar win, the 70th anniversary Fleming controversy, the first 007GB Club meet up, 40th anniversaries of Octopussy and Never Say Never Again, bumping into Aaron Taylor-Johnson (and THAT Calvin Klein photoshoot!), seeing Bond alumni in Jumpin' Jack Flash. This month's cocktail (which they make live) is a new one: the Wai Lin, which is one of the cocktails featured in the 2023 LTQ UNICEF fundraiser, Donate Another Day.

The Fast and Furious films scratch many of the same itches as the Bond series. Is that why they're so successful? Antony and David give their thoughts about the latest installment in this superbly camp franchise, including its queer representation. Mild spoilers.

Running probably saved my life. It’s saved Bond’s more than a few times as well. Here, I look back at his running career - which was not exactly impressive until Daniel Craig brought more metrosexual physicality to the character - and compare it with my own, which started soon after my first viewing of Casino Royale.

Michael Gillette’s art is nothing short of beloved by Bond fans. In 2008, he created a set of 15 instantly iconic covers for the Fleming centenary editions of the novels. Since then, he has also produced covers for continuation books. In October 2024, he releases his highly conceptual and utterly gorgeous covers for the new hardback editions of the Fleming originals. The project has been gestating for six years! Michael tells the full story here for the first time. Michael also shares how it feels to be such an integral part of what he calls 'the Bondiverse', relates his own Bond beginnings (including his experiences of reading Fleming for the first time) and how his work has been influenced by the places he’s lived, the music he loves and the Bond cover artists who came before him.

Colonel Moon/Gustav Graves is the epitome of someone who is not who they claim to be. And what makes ice queen Miranda Frost such a cool queer heroine?

David and Antony rev up their engines, listen to her howlin' roar and play with the boys, lavishing praise on the Top Gun sequel they didn't know they wanted. They discuss their relationships with the 1986 original, homoerotic subtexts, their opinions on Tom Cruise and the rest of the cast, the music (Gaga!) and try to work out why it just works so well from start to finish. Also, they share what it was like to experience it in 4DX; right into the Danger Zone indeed!

It has never made logical sense for Bond to choose a train over a plane, but that hasn’t stopped the 007 series making sleeper trains synonymous with romance and excitement. Why fly when you can travel by rail?

David relates his and his husband's recent experience on a sleeper train (The Caledonian Sleeper) and compare it with Bond's experiences in the films and books.

For 70 years, Her Majesty was the only consistent recurring 'character' across the different versions of Bond, serving as an inspiration for many, including women and those men who had to keep their sexuality secret.

For me, The Spy Who Loved Me marks the point where Bond edges closest to the ‘harder’, even hypermasculine end of the spectrum, potentially making it harder for some queer viewers to identify with him. It can sometimes feel like overkill, especially when it comes to his sexual conquests, as if Bond is trying too hard to prove something, perhaps even putting on an brave show of it. This performative aspect though provides a way in for those of us who spent portions of our lives trying hard to conceal parts of ourselves. Furthermore, several stylistic choices - as we shall see - encourage us to not take Bond’s hypermasculinity seriously.

Despite me being British, sport has always bored me to tears. So imagine my surprise when I found myself bawling my eyes out with pride in our sportspeople twice in one day! Perhaps their Bond-like approach to overcoming adversity had something to do with it?

An award-nominated voice actor and filmmaker, Kathryn Vinclaire is also a massive Bond fan who identifies as bisexual. Like many of us - even gay-identifying men like me - she has a “massive crush” on Diana Rigg in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. We discuss her Tracy Bond awakening moment and why the world of Bond is such an open space for queer people like us.

Antony and David review a fully stocked 2023. Rather than retread things they've already talked about in detail on episodes of Our Month in Bond they instead choose one highlight from each month to elaborate on, sharing hitherto unheard stories. Their selections include book launches, film screenings, events, trips to Bond locations at home and abroad, charity fundraisers, awards and - most thrillingly of all - making new Bond friends.

The episode ends by bringing the Our Month in Bond series up to date with their Christmas trip to Venice and their exclusive first reading of the new Bond novel (due out in April 2024) A Spy Like Me.

There are so many pitfalls when it comes to creating a gay character who is realistic, sympathetic and unstereotypical that it’s probably not surprising that most writers don’t even bother trying. With Joseph Dryden, the first gay Double-0, Kim Sherwood shows everyone how it should be done. You can also check out further Double or Nothing coverage at www.licencetoqueer.com, including my review, conversation with Kim, conversation with novelist Roland Hulme AND an original cocktail recipe!

Bisexual Bond expert Ben Williams and I have been speaking for years behind the scenes, emboldening each other to be more openly queer. After they came out as non-binary, we thought it was about time we tackled The Big Stuff more publicly: gender binaries, putting who we’re attracted to into boxes and, perhaps most profoundly of all, what needs to be going down in our personal lives to make sense of Quantum of Solace.

Please note that while I always aim to make Licence To Queer family-friendly, this podcast contains a few swear words from Ben. Even though Ben was on their “best behaviour,” they understandably got quite animated considering the personal nature of much of our discussion.

On their most recent trip to Tokyo, David and Antony really didn’t expect to find themselves in a lesbian bar themed around James Bond. Nor could they quite believe it when the owner herself was up for being interviewed about her Bond fandom and how ‘women only’ carries a different meaning in Japanese culture.

This interview was originally included in a podcast covering our whole trip to Japan, which you can find here:

https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/welcome-to-japan

Was the humour intentional or not? Does it matter?

After a discussion of the Camp aspects of Dr. No, I have a go at coming up with a score (out of 007) to rank it - purely in terms of queerness - in relation to the other Bond films.

Finally, some post re-view reflections on why people get worked up about the gender binary, an excerpt from a brilliant book by Meg-John Barker and Alex Iantaffi (link below) which has shaped my thinking and the acknowledgements.

https://www.rewriting-the-rules.com/self/new-book-life-isnt-binary-out-today/ 

Full references on www.licencetoqueer.com/dr-no

On the drive back from seeing the latest Mission: Impossible in the cinema (not handcuffed together), Antony and David try to not fall out with each other while discussing whether it's helpful (or not) to make comparisons with James Bond. They also talk about the queer elements, the Hitchcock influences and the really really cool bit where *spoilers*.

Stephen Bourne saw Goldfinger in the cinema in 1964 as an ‘impressionable little gay boy’. Author of one of the first (if not the first) books to see Bond films queerly, Stephen reveals how his thinking about the ‘offensive’ characters in Bond has become more nuanced since he wrote the book - and urges everyone to keep a more open mind.

Stephen is the author of Brief Encounters: Lesbians and Gays in British Cinema, published in 1996. To my knowledge, this is one of very first (if not the first) books to treat Bond films as ‘queer’ films. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brief-Encounters-Lesbians-British-1930-71/dp/0304332860 

Fighting Proud is the book which first drew Stephen to my attention. Published in 2017, the book reveals the untold stories of the gay men who served in Two World Wars. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Proud-Untold-Story-Served/dp/1784538744 

Stephen published his very first book in 1991, collaborating with his adopted aunt on relating her life as a black working-class Londoner. The book was later turned into a documentary, which you can view here: https://youtu.be/710s3ljCKag?si=XPgvRsJHs9WF8Egy 

2022’s Black Poppies: The Story of Britain’s Black Community in the First World War is Stephen’s bestselling book to date, currently in its third printing. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Poppies-Story-Britains-Community/dp/0750999632/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19LQ4MO9E51VN&keywords=black+poppies&qid=1705232380&s=books&sprefix=black+poppies%2Cstripbooks%2C65&sr=1-1 

Watching a double bill of Casino Royale and A View To A Kill with married couple Han (who never seen a Bond film) and Maz (who loved Bond as a child but was bullied into not liking it at school) was like seeing both films for the first time all over again. Listen in as two same sex couples banter about Bond with themed drinks along the way.

For more on the drinks we had, check out https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/lgbt-lesbians-and-gays-bond-together 

Beginning with a full-on fight with a man in drag, Thunderball has some curiously queer villains, including asexual Vargas, piratical Largo and the fabulous femme fatale Fiona Volpe.

GoldenEye was the first Bond film I saw in the cinema, aged 13. Seeing it at the cinema 27 years later, aged 40, would it be an emotional experience? (Yes. The short answer is Yes.)

I also had the good fortune to meet Thomas (@TEG79 on Instagram) who you can hear on this episode and Doug Astley (@TheDougHQ on twitter) who was sat next to me the whole time (although we didn't realise this immediately!)

In this informal chat (while they make Sunday lunch and cocktails), Licence to Queer creator David and his husband Antony reflect on the previous month and all the Bond-related things they have experienced. It's been a busy month! Discussion includes developments in 007GB Club (David is the Editor, Antony a member), the re-release of GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo Switch and Xbox, booking tickets to a Japanese staging of Casino Royale, a(nother) visit to Dukes in London, a sleeper train visit to Edinburgh supporting the release of Bond author Kim Sherwood's new book and the third international Jim Fanning Friday. They finish with a chat about the Bond tangential stuff they've consumed, including an appearance from Pierce Brosnan in 80s X-Men comics and Bond Girl Martine Beswick's appearance in a Hammer Horror film.

This month's cocktail is a 'Honey Ryder', a classic daiquiri with Blackwell's rum, substituting sugar syrup with honey.

In this spoiler-filled chat, David Lowbridge-Ellis delves deeply into all aspects of On His Majesty’s Secret Service with its author, Charlie Higson. No topic is off limits. David and Charlie get stuck into the core of the thrilling story, exploring the real life inspirations for the villain and his dastardly plot. They also tackle the really important questions, such as: should we trust someone if they have a six pack which is “ridged like a Toblerone”? What was the inspiration for giving Bond a ‘friend with benefits’? What kind of underpants does 007 wear? And, perhaps most pressingly of all, why does eating fermented foods make one ‘woke’?

Listen to Charlie’s brilliant new podcast 'Willy Willy Harry Stee' wherever you get podcasts. In each weekly episode, Charlie gets together with a historian to tell the story of one of England’s kings and queens. By the end of the series, every monarch will have been covered. As I say in our chat, I found that the episodes so far have really helped me fill in gaps in my own historical knowledge. It’s strongly recommended.

James Bond is dead! But only in a literal sense. With classical parallels aplenty, No Time To Die secures Bond’s place in the pantheon of queer heroes, making a myth out of 007 by turning him into a being we recognise as human - whoever we might be.

This is the podcast version of an article published on www.licencetoqueer.com

Antony and David debate the merits of the various Bond comic books published by Dynamite Entertainment, including the new run by Garth Ennis.

As usual for the 'Our Month' series, they look back on the many ways Bond has intersected with their daily lives and the special events they've been involved with, including Jim Fanning Friday: Live and Let's Bow Tie and a Goldfinger celebration in a bank vault. They also get everyone up to speed with the events to come: Sir Hilary Bray Day and the epic watchalong fundraiser Time to Donate.

This episode's cocktail is a new creation: the Casino Royale.

“James Bond was always something I could escape to. If I was feeling down, I would put on a Bond, and that would sort me out mentally. No Time To Die is the only time Bond has negatively affected my mental health.” - Timothy Russenberger

How much of an influence do the fictional characters we admire have on our mental wellbeing? Stories can be particularly powerful - positively or negatively - when we’re feeling emotional vulnerable.

Upfront, Tim - who is an actor by profession - shares his own experiences of depression and self-harm. Tim connects this with how Fleming was invested in Bond’s mental health and how this has sometimes been translated into the films, including an interesting presentation of self-harm in Skyfall.

For many of us, Bond is such a relatable hero - this can be both a positive and negative thing.

Tim is a big film buff and 2006’s Casino Royale is the film out of all the thousands he admires which has had the very positive impact on him, encouraging him to be a more outgoing person. Conversely, No Time To Die had a negative impact on his own mental health.

And what about the Bonds beyond Craig? Can they help us eliminate problems in our own life?

Find Timothy on Instagram: timothystyleactor and X: TimStylesActor

Like Bond, Silva was once a blunt instrument: something to be wielded by the British Establishment but without ever being admitted to the Establishment himself. Also like Bond, Silva is haunted by his past. However, the similarities run out of road here… In the absence of a chosen family like the one Bond has, something has steadily eaten away at Silva - and I’m not just talking about cyanide.

...I recommend listening to this first.

Or read this: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/what-makes-you-think-its-my-first-time

Your hosts recount their trip to Buckingham Palace to pick up David's MBE, the climactic 007GB event of 2023 and their experience of David Arnold's intimate live gig. After making a Doctor Who-themed Martini, they run through Christmas gift ideas for Bond fans, the release of Mark Edlitz's new book and finish with a discussion of Bond-tangential media they have enjoyed, including the film Saltburn and a 'shaken not stirred' Super Mario video game.

Your hosts will return before the end of the year, live from Venice, where they will be spending Christmas day itself.

Diamonds Are Forever may be one of the more bizarre Bond films but the early drafts by Richard Maibaum make the finished film look quite sane by comparison! Granted access to the Eon archives, film scholar Tom Mason shared with me what he had uncovered: possible versions of Diamonds Are Forever which are, by turns, ahead of their time AND positively deranged. You're not going to believe what Diamonds might have been!

The line didn’t exist in the earlier drafts of Casino Royale. Is it just a throwaway quip or something more revealing of Felix’s character?

After exploring the changes to the script of Casino Royale and the queer connotations of fruits and vegetables (it all makes sense, I promise!) we dig into a short history of gin and how it has fallen out of favour and back in again.

Antony and David reflect on another busy month which included David introducing a special screening of Casino Royale and interviewing six Bond authors at Pinewood Studios for Bondstars. They also discuss the Doctor Who connections with Bond (Doctor Who is celebrating its 60th anniversary), Halloween-related articles on the LTQ website, the Roger Moore auction and David receiving a very special item that once belonged to Roger Moore.

This might not sound like the most original insight, but there’s something not quite right with Lyutsifer Safin. And why is Obruchev giving us Nazi vibes?

The Proustian origins of Madeleine Swann.

Matt Carter’s first film as a 22 year old director was a gay James Bond film. His soon-to-be-released second feature is a love story between two rugby players, based on his personal experiences. I spoke with him about what draws him to stories set in stereotypically hypermasculine, straight male contexts and how gay cinema needs to move beyond coming out stories.

After seeing Jayson Bend for the first time nearly a decade after its first release, I was full of questions about the film. Fortunately, the director Matt Carter was able to make some time for us to have a conversation about his first feature, despite being knee deep in post-production on his new feature; a very personal story about gay rugby players and the impact their relationship has on their club.

A cinematic polymath, Matt does not just direct but also shoots, scores and does the visual effects for his films. He is passionate about telling stories which show that masculinity is not off limits for gay men.

We talked about the challenges of making a James Bond film for the equivalent £ of the toilet roll budget on Skyfall; approaching scoring a film like John Barry; telling a gay story while avoiding coming out cliches; representing the spectrum of gay identities, from masc to femme; countering a ‘what happens in the rugby club showers?’ mentality; confronting your demons by laying your life bare in your work; re-editing sex scenes for maximum impact; why an exploding dildo is considered family-friendly by the censor; how to feature an Aston Martin for free; Jayson Bend sequel ideas; his idea for a bisexual-themed psychological thriller; how to get permission to feature Grindr in your film - and much more.

Synopsis of Matt’s forthcoming film: In From The Side

Following a drunken encounter, two equally attached men from a cash strapped and divided gay rugby club unwittingly sleepwalk into an adulterous affair but must conceal their growing feelings or risk destroying the club they love.

Find out more here: http://www.infromthesidemovie.com/

https://www.instagram.com/infromtheside/

What did David and Antony think of the new game show on Amazon Prime?

*Contains spoilers for the first two episodes*

#007RoadtoaMillion

A brief overview of what Licence to Queer is all about and how you can get involved.

“When you focus your time and energy into the things you can change and influence, opportunities come to you and doors open that wouldn’t have been there before.” - John Able

John is a father and a writer of stories aimed at bringing children and their caregivers closer together. Earlier this year, he wrote an article about martial arts in Fleming which set off a chain of events leading to him becoming far more involved in the Bond community.

John also has a rare life-threatening heart condition. Here, he speaks openly about the feelings of grief he had after being diagnosed with the condition and how he approached making what changes he could to how he lived his life.

A lot of mental health difficulties stem from a feeling of being out of control, so we should try to focus on the things we can control. John uses two Bond films as a metaphor for how to approach the things life throws at us: we can be like Bond in Goldfinger and be the passive recipient of things happening to us or we can be like Bond in Quantum of Solace and continually adapt, creating new opportunities.

Although John speaks very candidly about his specific circumstances, he urges us to focus on the things all of us can control in all aspects of our lives.

While talking with John, David retrospectively realises he took this approach during the worst phase of his life - where negative thought patterns threatened to takeover - and it ultimately made him a much happier person.

John goes on to explain how he learned to defuse negative thoughts. It takes effort, but it’s worth it!

Finally, David and John discuss the extent to which Bond provides us with a fantasy of control.

Find John on Instagram: @writerjohnable

And check out his works on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/212Opi02PNbO64xqRRIytx?si=b8ac940c3bab4a56

Anyone who has seen Alex’s amazing YouTube knows that he always says yes to adventures! If something scares him, he follows Bond’s example and overcomes his fear by going and doing it. But as a child, he was not so confident. Alex has battled anxiety his whole life. He recognises that this is, in part, rooted in something James Bond is certainly no stranger to: childhood trauma. Between the ages of nine to twelve, Alex experienced a lot of violence. He was also extensively bullied at school and humiliated by teachers. Nevertheless, he refused to give in to the abuse and fought his way out - quite literally to begin with! Alex speaks very openly about his specific circumstances before sharing the coping strategies he has developed over the years. As Alex says, “Learning to cope takes time, practice and vigilance.” Alex shares what he has learned on his mental health journey so far. Both Alex and David are teachers, so expect this to be educational as well as entertaining. Alex unpicks the misconception of martial arts being as violent and gives David a live lesson in meditation. This conversation covers a lot of ground, including suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. They also touch on other aspects of mental health, including insomnia. Let us know if you would like more about this topic in a future episode with Alex and David! Follow Alex on Instagram @sifu_lamas Watch Alex’s adventures at:    / @yestoadventure007   About the ‘On Our Minds Only?’ series: Mental health is not discussed enough, despite it being an important element of the 007 stories. In this series, David talks very openly about mental health with members of the Bond community. He has a theory: these are the sorts of things on many of our minds but we often struggle to put them into words. Maybe we can change that?

Of the five senses, smell is not something we talk enough about in relation to Bond. This is somewhat ironic considering that this is the very first sense Fleming triggers, setting in motion decades years of olfactory curiosity, especially when it comes to gender.

This is a podcast recording of an article which you can read here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/pour-homme-pour-femme-and-for-everyone-in-between-the-scents-of-more-than-60-years

“At the core of a lot of depression is feeling like you don't have any meaning.” - David Zaritsky

David Zaritsky and David Lowbridge-Ellis candidly explore the dark side and light side of relevancy within the Bond community. (Yes, there are also Star Wars references.)

When we feel relevant, we get a natural hit of dopamine. But this can become dangerously addictive; creating content with the sole goal of gaining followers and likes can wreak havoc on our mental health.

David Z gets personal about how he has lost friends because they could not stop comparing their own relevance with other people’s. David L-E reveals how he strives to find meaning in himself, rather than by seeking affirmation from others.

This is a very personal conversation in which both Davids discuss how to navigate this tricky territory. The hope is that by sharing it publicly they will help others.

As David Z says here, when it comes to mental health, “There’s a real need to understand the why of what is happening.”

It’s tribal. Although some talk about the Bond Community as if it’s a place where everyone agrees with each other, in reality it consists of many subgroups. And while most Bond fans are positive voices, bringing diverse points of view and supporting others with positive affirmation, a few sadly pursue relevancy by propagating negativity, attempting to tear down those who they are jealous of.

The Davids hone in on their shared why: if it’s not followers and likes, what does motivate them to continue doing what they do?

Finally, David Z has some very practical advice for people who might be struggling with the issues raised in this video.

About the ‘On Our Minds Only?’ series:

Mental health is not discussed enough, despite it being an important element of the 007 stories. In this series, David talks very openly about mental health with members of the Bond community. He has a theory: these are the sorts of things on many of our minds but we often struggle to put them into words. Maybe we can change that?

Coming in slightly late - a few days into July - because we've had such a busy month...

June was Pride Month so we talk about all of the Prides we've been to, including Pride in London where we represented the queer Bond fan community. David talks about the On The Tracks Nene Valley Railway event where he spent lots of time with John Glen, Kristina Wayborn and other Octopussy alumni. Watching 50th anniversary film Live and Let Die inspired Antony to make a new cocktail. David visited Ian Fleming Publications. Antony found Bond references in 1960s Marvel comics. David met up with 007GB Club friends Natasha and Fletcher at Dukes in London for a Book Club discussion of Double or Nothing (which received a new cover for the paperback, unveiled this month). Antony talks about how he's getting on with reading Diamonds Are Forever. David and Antony discuss July's upcoming Zoom event with David and Kim Sherwood focused on Bond and travelling. Along the way, Antony and David also remember to talk about David receiving an MBE in King Charles's Birthday Honours. Talk about keeping the British End Up!

I am joined by Ian Fleming Publications' Managing Director Corinne Turner and Publishing Manager Simon Ward, following their announcement that they will be bringing the publication of all Ian Fleming titles 'in house' for the 70th anniversary of Bond. We discuss what this means for existing fans, their plans for attracting new audiences, the diversity of Fleming aficionados, new cover concepts and lots more. But first of all, I ask them to name their favourite Fleming books...

I’ve yet to find anyone who thinks having Noël Coward playing Dr. No would have been even a vaguely good idea, and that included the man himself. So what did Ian Fleming see in Coward - friend, neighbour, best man, godfather to his son - which the rest of us have missed?

David chats with Thomas Gilbert, the illustrator of the new edition of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released to celebrate the book's 60th anniversary. Although this is the first book Thomas has illustrated, you will likely be familiar with his work in other fields. He is not only a highly accomplished artist who turned to making Bond posters at the start of the Covid lockdowns (Instagram @gilbert_posters) but he also designs cars for a living!

Fleming originally commissioned his automotive engineer friend Amherst Villiers (namechecked in the early Bond books) to draw Chitty but his rendering was never used. So this edition marks the first time an actual car designer has illustrated the book!

Thomas's dynamic artwork perfectly complements Fleming's vivacious prose and brings us a Chitty quite unlike anything we've had before. Here, he takes us behind the scenes, explaining his process from start to finish, showing us how he decided what to illustrate and how he did it. We get to see the early work Thomas did for the book, months before it became the finished article. Along the way, Thomas and David discuss the various influences on the book's art, which include film noir, a classic 80s movie and a Fleming Bond novel - Thomas's favourite Bond novel in fact.

Thomas and David also talk about where their creative sparks come from and why it's a good idea to say 'Yes!' to adventures which take you out of your comfort zone!

Following Thomas on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/gilbert_posters/

Susan Sontag would have loved this film.

Dr Brendan J. Dunlop, a Principal Clinical Psychologist in the NHS, clinical lecturer and author of The Queer Mental Health Workbook, helps me analyse James Bond’s mental health experiences and suggests ways he could find some solace.

I regularly write about Bond's psychology and mental health more generally but I thought it was about time I spoke with an expert on the topics. Dr Dunlop is doubly qualified: as well as being a Clinical Psychologist he's also a Bond fan. We talk about the potential causes of Bond's mental health difficulties and things he could do to alleviate his mental distress.

I warmly recommend The Queer Mental Health Workbook to everyone - even if you're not queer you will find it enlightening and useful.

What a busy month in Bond! As well as May Day (honouring Grace Jones of course) there were two other bank holidays, one of which was for the King's coronation, which inspired the plot of the newest Bond book, On His Majesty's Secret Service. David chatted with Charlie Higson himself about it, both at the official London launch and on the LTQ podcast. David also co-hosted with Kim Sherwood a celebration of 70 years of the literary Bond, which was so successful that they are teaming up again soon (22nd July). David and Antony raised more than £1000 for UNICEF with Donate Another Day, which went quite a long way towards rehabilitating Die Another Day in the eyes of many who participated. Antony and David also found time to see a couple of Bond-related films at the cinema (Fast X, The Little Mermaid) and Antony read Fleming's Moonraker for the very first time, much to David's excitement. Finally, Antony and David look forward to the live streaming broadcast of Tazarauka Revue's 'Casino Royale - My Name is Bond' on 11th June, which they will be doing as a watchalong.

In a bit of a departure from Bond, Sam and David discuss why the joyful Netflix smash hit Heartstopper is a milestone in queer culture and why EVERYONE needs to watch it.

Although Bond comes up a few times in the discussion, it mostly draws on many of the ideas Sam and David have explored in relation to Bond, especially in terms of representation. They discuss why it resonated with them so much, why they wish it had been around when they were growing up, the criticism it has (unfairly) received from a minority of older gay men, the thoughts of a bisexual viewer and, ultimately, why it will have a life-changing impact on so many.

The first part of the Dr. No queer re-view explores the character of Bond, as first presented to us by Sean Connery in his first appearance. What gives him a 'gay sensibility'? Expect a far-ranging and provocative discussion including different points of view on the usual things (girls, guns, clothes) we associate with the character.

This is an audio version of an article on licencetoqueer.com, where you will also find in-depth and idiosyncratic quasi-academic analyses of all aspects of queerness in Bond from a range of voices across the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

Join in the mission to uncover what makes Bond such a draw for queer audiences, on www.licencetoqueer.com or on social media @licencetoqueer

Half of April was taken up with our trip to Japan and we won't repeat anything about that here (see our three previous episodes for that). But even in the latter two weeks of the month, there has been a lot of Bond action, including our preparations for joining His Majesty's Secret Service (the Coronation and the new novel by Charlie Higson) and our big fundraiser for the year: Donate Another Day. We talk through the event, including what to expect, what to drink and (courtesy of Bond food expert and author Edward Biddulph) what to eat. We also discuss the importance of Bank Holidays and Bond - and Antony finally commits to watching Never Say Never Again after years of David trying to persuade him.

Moore's Bond is the most 'Camp' but what does that really mean?

Two of my dearest friends Han (until last autumn a Bond first timer) and Maz (ardent Brosnan-era admirer) join me for The World Is Not Enough at our local cinema. Hear our thoughts from before and after the film.

Licence To Queer regulars will already know Han and Maz. We introduced Han to the world of Bond for the first time in September 2021 and talked about what it was like for Maz growing up as a queer female Bond fan in Ireland. You can hear this on an earlier podcast. Scroll down or go to https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/lgbt-lesbians-and-gays-bond-together

Callum McKelvie joins me for a special Spectre-al episode taking a light-hearted look at the horror elements in the Bond films and novels. We uncover the spookiest skeletons in Bond's closet and get very personal when exploring why queers like us are drawn to the macabre.

You can read Callum's original article about horror in Bond here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/spectre-al-visions-queers-horror-and-bond

Daniel Craig turned heads when he turned up to the No Time To Die premiere wearing a shocking-pink jacket. A statement piece in more ways than one, it was widely hailed as a break with Bond tradition. But the more we look, the more we find that this is hardly Bond’s first time wearing the most ‘feminine’ of shades.

“Just because someone seems happy, doesn’t mean it’s the reality of the situation. It’s good to check in and see how people are doing.” - Vinnie Harris

Vinnie Harris is an unfalteringly positive voice in the Bond community - his voice is also very deep and many of you will recognise it from his appearances on various podcasts!

As Anya Amasova tells Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, “it’s very important to have a positive mental attitude.” This can be easier said than done however! So positive is Vinnie online that you might be surprised to learn about the challenges he has overcome and continues to battle in his everyday life. This is the first time Vinnie has opened up publicly about these and how he is learning to cope with them. 

Diagnosed with autism and ADHD early in life, Vinnie talks candidly about how, like Bond, he felt like he didn’t fit in. Two decades down the line, he shares his thoughts about combatting negative self-talk, taking advice from family and friends, how it’s important to live life at your own pace and learning to own your uniqueness.

You can follow Vinnie on X @Harris94Vinnie and Instagram @mrharris00794

In the dark days of my early twenties, I fell out of love with Bond and poor Batman had to shoulder the responsibility of being my queer role model. Now that I’m nearly 40, staring down like a brooding gargoyle at my impending birthday, I’m wondering where the Batman and Bond influences end and the real me begins?

This is the podcast version of my article published on 19th March 2022: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/batman-and-bond-the-queer-heroes-we-deserve 

If you enjoyed my ramblings about Batman, you may be interested in my piece for Gayly Dreadful about my love for Batman Returns: https://www.gaylydreadful.com/blog/pride-2020-sickos-never-scare-me

The Spy Who Loved Me is one of the most balanced Bond films, with a finely calibrated blend of all we love about Bond. But the film we ended up with went through dozens of iterations, many containing thoroughly unhinged ideas. Tom Mason and David Lowbridge-Ellis have read every screen treatment and script they can get their hands on - two years' worth! - and are now ready to share what they've found. Batten down the hatches for seal sex, crash zooms, a villain called Kronk, Anya's brother-lover, testicular torture and a very temperamental Lotus Esprit... Contains some strong language (direct quotes from the screenplays).

Recorded live in the reception area of my hotel in Osaka, Japan this is a conversation with Eisuke Ochiai (@inspiredbybond on Instagram). We talk about Bond's place in Japanese culture before launching into our experiences with 'Casino Royale - My Name is Bond', a unique theatrical experience: not only is it the first stage musical of a James Bond story but it is performed by an all female cast, Takarazuka Revue, entirely in Japanese. How well did I (not a Japanese speaker) understand the story? What were our favourite elements? What were the completely bizarre parts which we never saw coming?! Listen on to find out!

Like the recipient of a deeply-suspect DNA transplant, Die Another Day is an attempted blend of new and emerging trends in culture and filmmaking with the feel of a classic Bond film. Not only that, it’s also narratively-speaking, both a Rebirth and Overcoming the Monster tale, two distinct archetypal story styles. The resulting experience is an identity crisis unfurling, sometimes jarringly, in front of our eyes. And the film’s identity crisis is mirrored, to an extent, in the character of Bond.

From the Glossary on www.licencetoqueer.com

The word queer, when used correctly, can be an empowering term which helps open up discussion and therefore foster greater understanding between people of different characteristics.

Unfortunately, queer was commonly used to attack the LGBTQ+ community until only very recently, and it still is at times. I remember being labelled ‘queer’ in the school playground and those negative associations are still with me. That’s part of the reason I want to reclaim the term and get people using it in the right way.

I’m not alone in this. Many younger LGBT people prefer the term queer because it doesn’t make them choose a particular box. It also carries a connotation of rebellion because of its history.

So queer can be used as a way of describing your identity.

It is also an academic term, one which has been used by academics for around four decades.

When the term queer is applied to a cultural text, such a book or film, it doesn’t have to refer to something that features explicitly (or even implicitly) lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex or asexual characters. An early pioneer of queer readings of films intended for consumption of non-queer people, Alexander Doty, argued that anything could be seen as queer. A queer book, film, video game, whatever is anything that challenges heteronormativity - the ideas, pervasive in many cultures: that the only normal or natural relationships are those between one man and one woman for the purposes of procreation; that gender is a binary (male/female). Queer texts present alternative possibilities to traditional narratives - you can’t be what you can’t see - helping people live more authentic, happier lives.

https://www.licencetoqueer.com/glossary 

Two days before the world premiere of No Time To Die, big UK broadcaster ITV chose Diamonds Are Forever as their Sunday afternoon film, one of my favourites of the series. Could I resist watching it on TV even though I had several copies on Blu Ray and DVD? Of course I couldn't! And despite me giving no warning about it, neither could many of you, including the following lovely folks on Twitter: @andytowne @shaggythetyke @jordan_welshy @tomsmason91 @seaniebird @lioneltwigg @notperfectedyet

Rather than talk over the film, I recorded my thoughts during the ad breaks. It was a huge nostalgia trip, taking me back to watching the Bonds on TV as a child.

Although Giancita ‘Jinx’ Johnson is not the first of the series’ ‘female Bond’ characters, she’s the one who mostly closely mirrors his non-binary combination of masculine and feminine qualities, as well as his traits of a stereotypical gay man.

In part 2, I look at the first portrayals of regulars Moneypenny, M and Felix Leiter. I also explore the colonial underpinnings of Bond's relationship with Quarrel and how much Fleming's own preference for male friendship influenced his writing and the subsequent films.

Thunderball features an early example of the ‘found family’ or ‘chosen family’ we typically associate with some of the Pierce Brosnan films and definitely the latter half of the Daniel Craig era. Those in the field include regulars Felix Leiter and Q, plus local contacts Paula and Pinder.

If Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz is to be believed, there's no place like home. But what if that home is Skyfall? In his 50th anniversary queer odyssey, 00-Dorothy doesn’t just kick back against traditional notions of home and family; along the way he creates a unconventional family to replace the one he lost and blows up his childhood abode with dynamite. Talk about cathartic!

The author of A Different Kind of Brave describes his novel as a “gay teen love letter to James Bond movies”, which is a pretty accurate description!

Lee Wind’s book is a ludicrously exciting and romantic action adventure story with all of the Bond ingredients - but with two gay protagonists, one of who filters his whole life through his beloved Bond movies, which is definitely something many of us can relate to.

For many readers - young adult or older - reading this novel will be an intensely validating experience. I devoured it in one sitting, propelled by the narrative and characters. What I did not expect to happen was to find myself at the end sobbing tears of queer joy.

The day after reading A Different Kind of Brave, I chatted with Lee about his own history with Bond (the book is crammed with 007 detail!) and what motivates him to writes books which have the potential to change lives.

One of my own motivations for chatting with Lee was to find out how we could get as many people as possible to get hold of a copy of A Different Kind of Brave.

You can pickup the paperback from all online retailers. But Lee has also created a really Kickstarter for the hardback. For everyone who pledges for a gorgeous hardback edition of the book the publisher will give a paperback copy to queer youth!

You can find out more here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leewind/exclusive-collectors-hardcover-of-a-different-kind-of-brave

Well, they can't all be winners, eh?

Antony and David dive into the second Warren Ellis/Jason Masters' "caper" Eidolon, which deals with dirty money and even dirtier duties as James and Tanner, er, torture a suspect by removing his skin (?!) to prevent the rise of a neo-SPECTRE.

Listen to what the couple thought, along with thoughts from LTQ listener, on 2016's Eidolon from Dynamite Entertainment.

60 years ago, when the movie Bond began, England’s most popular actor was Dirk Bogarde, a closeted gay man. Dirk was even approached to play Bond. But big Bogarde fan Callum McKelvie is glad the matinee idol never donned 007’s tux (although he would have looked great in it).  

Check out Callum's article at www.licencetoqueer.com

Recorded in Heathrow airport and two very different bars in Tokyo. Starting off their trip to Japan (for both their wedding anniversary and Antony's birthday), Antony and David sip Negronis in the departure lounge while giving their perspective on Bond travel, including how to do it on a budget. After arriving in Tokyo, they have more cocktails in a key location from You Only Live Twice and finish their first night at a women-centric bar called Gold Finger, where they interview the owner about her love of James Bond and what it's like to be LGBTQ+ in Japan.

John is one of the fantastic lads who make up the Really, 007! podcast. While David has been honoured to be their guest multiple times and they've got to know each other well in real life, this is the first time John and David have publicly talked just the two of them. Both men help people with problems as part of their professional lives having been motivated to do so by some of their own adverse experiences. Rarely are real life problems as easy to ‘eliminate’ as they are in the world of Bond. But that shouldn’t prevent us from trying. John was eager to come onto On Our Minds Only? and we’re so glad he did. The story of John’s mental heath journey is a gripping one - and it has the power to change lives. Both had no idea how this conversation would unfold. They start by introducing the topics of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)… and then (a bit like episodes of ‘Really, 007!’) things take off in unexpected directions… We won’t spoil it here, but instead urge you to hit PLAY and let John’s story unfold in its entirety. A sneak preview: It begins with an eleven year old John having his world view turned upside down by a viewing of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. We move on to nineteen year old John experiencing a significantly traumatic incident which was to reverberate through his whole life ever afterwards… With great vulnerability, John doesn’t hold back from sharing what happened when he hit rock bottom. But this is ultimately an incredibly hopeful story. John made a life-changing decision to devote a lot of his time to helping others, using what he’d learned about himself. Along the way, John and David relate everything back to Bond. This includes their own deeply personal takes on Licence to Kill and Skyfall. Although this episode is longer than the others in this series, you will definitely want to watch the whole thing. Let us know what you think.

Matt Carter's new film, In From The Side, is about a romance between two gay rugby players. In this conversation we tackle (sorry!) avoiding 'gay film' cliches, different masculinities, alternatives to monogamy, drinking culture and how to shoot sex scenes intimately but tastefully.

Check out my earlier conversation with Matt, about his 'gay James Bond' film here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/matt-carter 

What makes the queer re-view of Dr. No worth listening to?

This is kind of the trailer, with me outlining the main ideas which get discussed in relation to the girls, the villains, the allies and Bond himself - and I also throw in some behind the scenes insights.

Queer re-view launches Saturday 21st August

- David

Utilising the Licence to Queer queer view system (Bond, Allies, Girls, Villains, Camp), Antony and David tackle the first in Dynamite Entertainment's long line of James Bond comic books:

Vargr by Warren Ellis and Jason Masters from late 2015.

With a drought on the Bond film front, why is everyone not quenching their thirst with the Bond books? Perhaps it's because, with more than 50 continuation stories published in the sixty years since Fleming's death, it can be hard knowing where to start. Setting each other the mission of proving the case that there's a Bond book for every mood and every taste, Licence to Queer's David Lowbridge-Ellis and Mark Edlitz, author of James Bond After Fleming, have each curated a list of seven 007 continuation novels.

Here they share their picks and why they selected them. David and Mark each choose...

The one to read in one sitting

The one to read when you're in the mood to squirm in your seat

The one to read when you want something fantastical

The one to read on the beach

The one to read when you want something psychological

The one to read when you want to see Bond from a different angle

The one to read when you want something fresh and original

*There are slight spoilers for the opening chapters of some of the books but nothing significant about the plots.*

This is my pure, unadulterated 'off the cuff' take on No Time To Die, 24 hours after seeing it for the first time.

The first segment (14 minutes) is completely spoiler free: although I usually keep my opinions to myself, this time I give them free reign.

And then I get stuck into no-holds-barred spoiler territory (don't worry - it's very clearly signposted so you will know when to stop listening). This is my unfiltered 'queer re-view', before I've had chance to do my usual extensive research and restrain my free-wheeling thoughts, taming them into something more civilised and refined.

Enjoy!

No shade, but is M's death supposed to be... funny?!

Verity keeps her tip up, Q gives Bond his ring and Moneypenny enjoys some me time.

“It might sound strange for an asexual person to be a Bond fan, given that sexual attraction is such a big part of the character’s world…” Fenna Geelhoed sets asexual representation in her sights and targets the best and worst examples from the Bond series.  This is a video accompanying an article on www.licencetoqueer.com  

Direct link here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/what-do-you-do-asexual-coding-in-the-james-bond-universe.

Kim Sherwood and David Lowbridge-Ellis celebrate 70 Years of Bond by getting together with an audience to talk all things Fleming. They start off by sharing their funny first encounters with the Bond books (both involved naked men as it happens!) before discussing the best order in which to read them. Kim and David get stuck into the subtle - and less subtle! - differences between the films and books, including the parts which readers unfamiliar with Fleming find surprising. David and Kim also read aloud some short excerpts from the novels, including their favourite character introductions (both choose their favourite ally and villain) and some of Fleming's fantastic descriptions. Kim and David invite audience contributions throughout - there were some fantastic questions posed! This is a recording of a live event on the evening of 18th May 2023. Thank you to everyone who came along. Save the date for the next live event with David and Kim on 22nd July 2023. Kim Sherwood is the author of the Double-O series, the first book of which is Double or Nothing and was published in 2022. The second in the trilogy will be released in 2024. She is also the author of the multi-award-winning Testament (2018) and the swashbuckling A Wild & True Relation (2023). You can subscribe to Kim's Substack, The Girl With The Golden Pen, here: https://kimsherwood.substack.com/ All paid subscribers get FREE access to these live events. David Lowbridge-Ellis is the creator and editor of Licence to Queer, a multi-platform mission to bring together LGBTQ+ fans of James Bond so we can all appreciate 007 from different angles. In 2023, he was awarded #BondCommunity Writer of the Year. Licence to Queer is based at www.licencetoqueer.com and can be found @LicenceToQueer on twitter and Instagram. David is also the Editor-in-Chief of the British James Bond Fan Club, 007GB. Check out David's coverage of Double or Nothing here. The non-spoiler review: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/b... Interview with Kim Sherwood (recorded July 2023, released September): https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/c... An appreciation of the book's gay representation, in the personage of 004 Joseph Dryden: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/0...

There is also a video version of this event on the LTQ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09WNUhck0kQ

Participants had the option of having their cameras on and you will see some of these guests in the second half of the video.

Benson’s Bond books updated 007's world for their period and were even ahead of their time in key ways. On the eve of the re-release of Zero Minus Ten, Raymond and I chat in detail about not just Bond but also other mutual passions, including Hitchcock, Hong Kong cinema and listening to The Beatles without earmuffs. As well as being a novelist, Raymond has been a theatre director, music composer, computer game creator and film historian. Although he’s now written over 40 books, 1997’s Zero Minus Ten was his first novel to be published. Zero Minus Ten is being re-released on 5th October 2023. Although we discuss Benson’s Bond books in some detail, none of the twists and turns in the stories are given away. Here’s an overview of our chat: 00:00 Bond and Bergman  04:50 Hitchcock and Kubrick  07:00 Acting, directing and many other careers 09:25 Zero Minus Ten - his first novel (if you don’t count the one starring his nephew) 12:50 A Hitchcockian approach to plotting 20:25 Hong Kong history - a succinct summary of British Colonial History 29:40 Hong Kong cinema and the ‘casting’ of Zero Minus Ten 32:50 Modernising Bond’s world 34:00 Sex scenes: a focus on female pleasure.  39:40 Getting inside Bond’s head 43:20 “You asked, why do I love Bond…” 46:50 Early Bond obsession: awkward admissions from childhood! 48:20 The peaks and troughs of Bond’s popularity 49:30 Bond films: a history of pop culture 50:00 Nerdy questions about Raymond’s Bond books 57:20 The novelisations 01:02:00 Looking back on seven years of writing Bond novels 01:04:00 Looking ahead: reprints and a rendezvous at Pinewood Due to a little internet lag, the video is occasionally out of sync and we inadvertently talk over each other here and there early on, but not enough to hamper your enjoyment.