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.

What did Kina Lillet really taste like, and how close can you get to the Vesper Ian Fleming described in Casino Royale?

David Leigh is joined by drinks expert David T Smith, one of the few people to have tasted a surviving bottle of Kina Lillet. DTS explains how the old aperitif was not simply modern Lillet Blanc with more quinine. Different versions appear to have been produced for different markets, including a less sweet style for British drinkers who mixed it with gin.

That makes Bond’s order in Casino Royale harder to pin down than it first appears. Which Kina Lillet would he actually have been served? And how different would the resulting Vesper have tasted from the pale, dry version usually made today?

To find out, we taste DTS’s own approximation of Kina Lillet, made from equal parts Lillet Blanc and Kina Martini. Compared with modern Lillet, it is sweeter, heavier and slightly medicinal. Smith then uses it in a Vesper made with 47.3% Gordon’s gin and vintage 50% Smirnoff vodka. The drink is darker and fuller, with the golden colour Fleming described.

The Vesper itself comes under scrutiny too. Fleming later called it unpalatable, Bond never orders another one in the novels, and its highly specific recipe may have contained an element of mischief. The pair ask whether it is genuinely a great cocktail or whether its real importance comes from its place in Bond history.

They also move on to other drinks from Fleming and the films, including the Americano, the Stinger, Bond’s gin and tonic made with the juice of an entire lime, the vodka Alexander and the mysterious Foo Yuck. Smith explains which of them he would like to see used in Bond 26 and why the drink chosen for a scene should fit the place, character and situation rather than simply serve as product placement.

There is also the £600 Macallan released for the 55th anniversary of Diamonds Are Forever. DTS attended the London tasting and explains how the whisky drew on details from the film, including references to sherry and claret.

The episode ends with news of the forthcoming podcast Red Wine with Fish, co-hosted by David T Smith, which will take a deeper look at James Bond’s drinks across both the books and films.

Where to find us

David T Smith

https://summerfruitcup.wordpress.com/

https://www.instagram.com/redwinewithfishpodcast/

David Leigh

https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com

Additional links

The Complete Guide to the Drinks of James Bond

https://www.jamesbonddrinks.com

The James Bond Dossier article on Kina Lillet:

https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com/lifestyle/drink/kina-lillet.htm

Macallan Diamonds Are Forever 55th anniversary whisky:

https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com/features/the-macallan-unveils-diamonds-are-forever-55th-anniversary-release-in-london.htm

Roger Moore's perfect martini:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/17/how-make-dry-martini-roger-moore-way-james-bond

Recorded on 14th July 2026 in the UK and Spain.

Bond 26 appears to be getting into gear, with reported August auditions giving the clearest sign yet that Amazon MGM’s first James Bond film is taking shape.

Bill Koenig, Javi Trujillo and David Leigh look at what the latest casting reports really mean, why the new Bond auditions matter, and what this points towards.

The team breaks down the Deadline report on auditions for the new James Bond in August, and wonder if Global James Bond Day will be the moment Amazon finally does what Eon never did?

They also discuss Young Bond casting, Isaac Rouse in Big Finish’s upcoming SilverFin audio adaptation, the problem of public denials in Bond casting, and what can — and cannot — be learned from the Daniel Craig selection process for Casino Royale.

Javi also gives his verdict on 007 First Light, including Patrick Gibson’s performance as Bond, the game’s replay value, its similarity to Casino Royale, and whether Gibson should be considered a serious Bond 26 contender.

Along the way, David's dog gives his own opinion on the Deadline story, Bill outs himself as a Harry Potter fan, and Javi suggests David’s British citizenship may soon be revoked.

Where to find us

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

Recorded in the USA and Spain on 29th June 2026.