Licence To Queer

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

We're launching a new mini-series on the Licence to Queer podcast feed and one which is going to be led by Antony Lowbridge-Ellis, David's (better) half. In this introductory episode, Antony, a life-long fan of the medium of comic books (see his X-Men podcast X-Nation) gives a bit of background on this new Licence to Queer project where Antony and David will review each arc, in order, of the James Bond comic books being published by Dynamite Entertainment. Before we get to Episode 001 (Warren Ellis' and Jason Masters' 2015/16 reboot "Vargr"), Antony explains in Episode 000 the history of James Bond on the comic book page, detailing how the "funny book" version pre-dates the cinematic Bond by almost four years.

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.

Is this the most niche Bond podcast of all time? We hope so! And we guarantee you'll find it interesting! Artist Rosie Sherwood and me tackle the topic of tweed in Bond and find there's much more to it than just snazzy looking garments. Rosie is the grandaughter of Bond actor George Baker and costume designer Julia Squire, who worked with John Huston, Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean and many others. And if the name Sherwood sounds familiar, that's because Rosie is the sister of Bond author Kim Sherwood. Rosie shares some lovely family stories before we embark on our exploration of tweed in Bond, in the books and the films (there's more tweed in Bond than you may realise!). We also talk about the fabric's comparable role in other British cultural exports such as Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders. We recorded this podcast ahead of Sir Hilary Bray Day: on 1st April, join us in celebrating the tweed-wearing heraldry expert played by Rosie's grandfather in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (and impersonated by George Lazenby for the middle chunk of the film). All you need to do is wear some tweed - we're pretty sure you'll own some already and, if not, we have tips on where to get hold of some. Articles we found of particular use in our research: Bond Suits (Matt Spaiser) https://www.bondsuits.com/how-to-look-modern-in-tweed-007-examples-of-bonds-tweeds/ Gentleman's Gazette https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/tweed-guide-harris-history-styles-patterns/

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)

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.*

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

In the last two years, the Licence to Queer community raised almost £4,000 for charity. This year we’re raising money to support the vital work of a charity whose mission is close to our hearts: PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. Very few people will not have been affected by suicide. One of my motivations for starting Licence to Queer was to do whatever I could to shatter the stigma surrounding suicide. Not only have I experienced suicidal thoughts for prolonged periods of my own life but I have known several people who have taken their own lives. One of my earliest pieces dealt very personally with my own battle with suicidal ideation and it’s a topic I’ve returned to more recently in my coverage of the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die. That film’s title provided us with the inspiration for the name of this year’s fundraiser. Its star, Daniel Craig, has personally donated to our chosen charity and sent them messages of support. This year we are raising money for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. As we have done in previous years, my husband and me are going to create a focal point for our efforts by having a marathon Bond watchalong with followers. The first year, it was the Bond films of Roger Moore. Last year it was the Bond films of Pierce Brosnan. This year’s it’s fitting that it’s Daniel Craig. On the surface, a movie marathon might not sound all that ardous - even one lasting over 700 minutes! - but if you’ve been involved in one of these before, you know it’s so much more. Expect custom drinks (which you can make yourself, as we’ll share the recipes in advance), costume changes and much more. We’ll be watching along with fans on social media and streaming live between each film. Save the date: Sunday 26th May 2024 Find out more and donate at https://tinyurl.com/LtQTfD2024 HOPELINE247 is available 24 hours a day, 265 days of the year to support young people experiencing suicidal thoughts, and those concerned about a young people that might be feeling suicidal. Call: 0800 068 41 41 Text: 07860 039 967

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

What did David and Antony think of the new game show on Amazon Prime? *Contains spoilers for the first two episodes* #007RoadtoaMillion

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.

A bumper double episode, bringing you two months in one. We've both been so busy being 'problem eliminators' with our day jobs we didn't have chance to record at the end of August, so we saved it for now. We look back at the brilliant 007GB Club Belfry event in Birmingham, new editions of Bond novels for Global James Bond day, the excellent new Bond video game Cypher 007, our holiday plans to a classic Bond location and what's hot on the Licence to Queer website including new cocktail - the 'Kara Milovy'. Our review of Cypher 007 in the main body of the episode is spoiler free but the last 10 minutes of the podcast are full of plot spoilers for the first 10 missions of the game. There is plenty of warning so you won't stray into this section by accident.