How does James Bond survive in a world of smartphones, surveillance and ever more powerful technology?

Charlie Higson joins us to talk about King Zero, his first full-length adult James Bond novel, and the problem of bringing 007 into the present day without losing what makes him Bond.

Charlie describes Bond as “an analogue man in a digital world” and explains why that still works. We get into the structure of a classic Bond story, the villain he set out to create for King Zero, and the fears about technology and our growing dependence on it that sit behind the story.

We also talk about Fleming, Thunderball, From Russia with Love, Sean Connery, John Barry, David Arnold and Bond 26. And before all that, Charlie explains how a career that started in music and comedy eventually led him to James Bond.

Charlie Higson joins David Leigh, Bill Koenig and Javi Trujillo for the 50th episode of The 007 Files.

Where to find us

Charlie Higson

https://x.com/monstroso

Bill Koenig

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Javi Trujillo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/the⁠bondisnotenough⁠⁠⁠

David Leigh

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Additional links

Order King Zero from Ian Fleming Publications

https://ianflemingshop.com/products/james-bond-king-zero-hardback-book-by-charlie-higson

The Higsons live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-DWlwo2IIo

Recorded on 22nd September 2026 in the UK, USA and Spain.