No Mr Bond, I expect you to die.

So the early reviews for Bond 21, Casino Royale are coming in and YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY.

Praises are being heaped. I love Bond so I am incredibly relieved. It's always dangerous when a franchise is being 'reinvigorated' as was here. The gadgets and buxom beauties kept to a minimum in favour of character delineation and a more gritty realism. Not to mention a new Bond and a stripping back to the character actually envisaged by Fleming.

Apparently our boy Dan gives a fantastic performance and the script [perenials Wade and Purvis with the addition of Paul Haggis] is top drawer.

The kind of down and dirty Bond portrayed in The Living Daylights seemed to split audiences and critics. But this one seems to have got everything just right.

Deep joy. All is right with the world.

Now if I could just get these frickin' story lines done......


Quick note on ITV. I'm guessing a few writers out there have been to meetings with Indie prodco's recently and the subject of 'Does anyone know what ITV are looking for? came up.

I know it has for me on several occassions. Well now at least I know what they are not looking for. My agents were at a seminar last week with ITV drama [ you'd think they'd do the same with producers but there you g0] And they are not looking for.........

Police or legal - unless it's another 'Cracker'
FemJeps - females in jepordy apparently.
Psychological Thrillers - stalkers

And they are looking for ''Bold, talked about contemporary drama with something to say about the world we live in''

Aren't we all?


Oh and classic adaptations.

So now you know.