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BBC Radio 4 Bond adaptations starring Toby Stephens - Casino Royale 20th April 2025

JamesPageJamesPage Administrator, Moderator, Director
edited March 20 in News Posts: 1,380
BBC Radio 4 will air a new "From Russia With Love" play next week, adapted from the Fleming novel and starring Toby Stephens as 007....

<img src="http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/images/events_from_russia_with_love_radio4.jpg">;

http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/events_from_russia_with_love_radio4.php3
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Comments

  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,372
    After listening to Dr. No and Goldfinger a few months ago, I wondered if this year would bring another adaptation. I know there were special circumstances for the last two and thought how could EON pass up the 50th anniversary to make one more?

    I'm surprised this was not announced earlier, did someone miss it? It's as if it has come out of the blue.

    With three of the twelve novels now done will EON proceed with adapting the rest? I would love them to as they are so well done and I really enjoy Stephens as Bond - he really can make up for his role in Die Another Day this way!

    If they continue, is there a chance of one per year? Any idea Mr. Page? If not, these won't be complete until 2030 if all the books were to be adapted!
  • JamesPageJamesPage Administrator, Moderator, Director
    Posts: 1,380
    Samuel001 wrote:
    I'm surprised this was not announced earlier, did someone miss it? It's as if it has come out of the blue.

    Out of the blue indeed. Unlike the first two times, this was kept hush until a week before broadcast. Quite strange. Even the BBC Radio 4 press room has less than their public schedule page. It's almost as if they didn't want anyone to know about it. :S
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited July 2012 Posts: 13,372
    JamesPage wrote:
    Samuel001 wrote:
    I'm surprised this was not announced earlier, did someone miss it? It's as if it has come out of the blue.

    Out of the blue indeed. Unlike the first two times, this was kept hush until a week before broadcast. Quite strange. Even the BBC Radio 4 press room has less than their public schedule page. It's almost as if they didn't want anyone to know about it. :S

    Fuuny, that. Very odd. Thanks for the info.
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    Samuel001 wrote:
    JamesPage wrote:
    Samuel001 wrote:
    I'm surprised this was not announced earlier, did someone miss it? It's as if it has come out of the blue.

    Out of the blue indeed. Unlike the first two times, this was kept hush until a week before broadcast. Quite strange. Even the BBC Radio 4 press room has less than their public schedule page. It's almost as if they didn't want anyone to know about it. :S

    Fuuny, that. Very odd. Thanks for the info.

    Maybe it's not very good :-SS
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,372
    Going by the last two, this will be excellent.
  • MrBondMrBond Station S
    Posts: 2,044
    Where can i listen on Dr.No and Goldfinger?
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    What a great cast, I often think what a great Bond Toby Stephens could have been in film. Mark Gatiss as Kronsteen!
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited July 2012 Posts: 13,372
    MrBond wrote:
    Where can i listen on Dr.No and Goldfinger?

    They should be on YouTube still, if you're lucky.
  • MrBondMrBond Station S
    Posts: 2,044
    Samuel001 wrote:
    MrBond wrote:
    Where can i listen on Dr.No and Goldfinger?

    They should be on YouTube still, if you're lucky.

    Thanks, i'm going to listen on that when i get time!
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,372
    One week to catch this in case you missed it:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01kxzr6/Saturday_Drama_From_Russia_with_Love/
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,140
    Cheers, Sam.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,372
    Thank @forgotmyusername. He found the link, I just posted it in the right place.
  • mr1takemr1take
    Posts: 2
    I can hear the show but I can't download it. I can't play it here at work. I would love to have FRWL as well as Dr. No and Goldfinger to play on my iPod at my leisure.
  • scotty8692scotty8692
    Posts: 43
    I actually missed the first two ones, but will probably seek them out now. Quite liked FRWL! Toby makes a good Bond!
  • oo7oo7
    Posts: 1,068
    Great stuff, get it before it goes
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    Would anyone care to explain where the protracted 'Puppy dogs tails' exchange came from and why it wasnt left on the cutting room floor?

  • oo7oo7
    Posts: 1,068
    from the book.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    Really? I honestly cant recall ever having seen that before. What in the briefing with M? I'm going to have to check the book the moment I get home from work.
  • oo7oo7
    Posts: 1,068
    I'm positive m throws out the sugar and spice reference. cant find my copy laying around just now but its in the meeting where bond dismisses the whole thing as stupid.
    <object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZaSIfgIpA3k?version=3&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZaSIfgIpA3k?version=3&hl=en_GB"; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117

    .
    oo7 wrote:
    I'm positive m throws out the sugar and spice reference. cant find my copy laying around just now but its in the meeting where bond dismisses the whole thing as stupid.
    <object width="420" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZaSIfgIpA3k?version=3&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZaSIfgIpA3k?version=3&hl=en_GB"; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>


    Had a quick scan through the book today and I cant find any sign of it. What was Martin Jarvis thinking of? Particularly as this forced and pointless exchange was kept in but the whole Krilencu plot and the gypsy camp was axed.

    Nonetheless seeing as EON are unlikely to make any faithful Fleming adaptations any time soon its not bad.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited March 20 Posts: 18,642
    Please see the details at the link below:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b042cq8f

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
    First broadcast: Saturday 03 May 2014 James Bond seems more interested in gambling at the Casino Royale than tracking down elusive SPECTRE chief Blofeld. Then he meets Tracy, emotionally disturbed daughter of mafia boss Draco.
    Now he has a double motive: seek and destroy Blofeld, and prevent Tracy killing herself.

    Impersonating a College of Arms official Bond infiltrates Blofeld's Swiss mountain-top lair. He learns that Blofeld and aide Irma Bunt are brainwashing young women. Why? Is biological warfare involved? Backed by 'M' and Draco, Bond mounts an air assault. But can he pin down monstrous Blofeld? And what will happen to Tracy?

    Toby Stephens is on top form as 007. A stellar cast includes Joanna Lumley, Alfred Molina, Alex Jennings, Lisa Dillon, John Standing, Janie Dee, Lloyd Owen, Joanna Cassidy, Clare Dunne and Julian Sands, with Jarvis himself as the voice of Fleming.

    Specially composed music: Mark Holden and Michael Lopez
    Dramatised by Archie Scottney

    Director: Martin Jarvis
    Producer: Rosalind Ayres
    A Jarvis & Ayres Production for BBC Radio 4
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,082
    It's nice that Joanna Lumley is taking part in this, with her role in OHMSS film. I see that she is voicing Irma Bunt, who is one of my favourite Bond characters!
  • MrSilvaMrSilva
    Posts: 33
    Gustav Graves voicing James Bond?! Impossible! :P
  • dramaticscenesofQOSdramaticscenesofQOS
    Posts: 1,283
    Thanks!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,642
    MrSilva wrote:
    Gustav Graves voicing James Bond?! Impossible! :P

    It's not the first time either!
  • mirandafrostmirandafrost
    Posts: 368
    I'm just listening to it... Very nice. Like it. :)
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    It's odd hearing Toby as Bond. Hope he lives to die another day by the end. ;-)
  • OnlyManWhoCanOnlyManWhoCan Greater London
    Posts: 202
    It's frustrating that once they're gone they're gone forever, unless there's a link to the other adaptations somewhere? I've got Dr No and Goldfinger saved to Mini Disc when I recorded them off the radio (they're the only reason I haven't chucked my Mini Disc recorded!)
  • PurplecipherPurplecipher
    Posts: 53
    While I found Toby Stephens's sneering Gustav Graves a compelling character in DAD, I'm dismayed he's brought this same aloof and sneering persona to the role of James Bond himself in his two BBC Radio 4 outings, 'Goldfinger' and now 'O.H.M.S.S.' (For all I know, maybe this is Stephens's character in real life.) Moreover, for me, both dramatisations have erred too greatly towards lighthearted treatments and lack the grittiness of Fleming's originals. With another actor cast as Bond, perhaps the excellent David Rintoul, these BBC radio adaptations could have been so much better. I do hope that Stephens is not pencilled in to be a permanent fixture in future Radio 4 bank holiday dramatisations of the Bond novels.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,642
    ^^

    Toby Stephens also played Bond in Dr. No and From Russia with Love on BBC Radio 4.
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