James Bond was invented by a real British spy called Ian Fleming. He worked as a journalist before the Second World War and provided MI6 (Ministry of Intelligence) with vital information and proved to be an inventive,elegant and brave Commander. His commando unit 30 Assault worked behind the German lines and must have provided him with material for the many dangers faced by 007 over the years.

Many people want to escape to a paradisiacal island one day but can not because of commitments. Fleming built himself a house, called ‘Goldeneye’ in Jamaica and lived like a king. Forced to marry after getting his lover pregant, he turned to writing at the age of 44

His first book, written in just eight weeks, was ‘Casino Royale’ which showed a very cold-hearted and ruthless James Bond. What is not widely known is that Ian Fleming also wrote the children’s story “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang”.

Like his hero Bond, Fleming wanted ‘not to waste (his) days in trying to prolong them’. He died aged 56.

Bond is not only famous for his ‘Bond, James Bond’ introductions but also for his favourite drink. In ‘Casino Royal’ Bond gives instructions to a French barman on how to make a ‘Martini; shaken not stirred’.

“A dry martini,” he said. “One. In a deep champagne goblet.” “Oui, monsieur.”

“Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?”

James Bond lost his parents in a climbing accident when he was twelve years old. He was educated at the most exclusive private English school , Eton, and later became a Royal Navy commander and top spy.

In the original English James Bond never says ’ Zero, Zero Seven’. He always says ‘Double-O Seven’.His family motto is “Non sufficit orbis” or ‘The World is Not Enough’

The actors who have played the Scottish spy are Seán Connery (Scottish), George Lazenby (Australian),Roger Moore (English), Timothy Dalton (Welsh) and Pierce Brosnan (Irish). So it seems that you don’t have to be English to portray the archtypal English hero…er…Scottish hero. Antonio Banderas as O-Doble Siete directed by Almodóvar? Imagine! “ Me llamo Bono, Jaime Bono”