Build-A-Bond

For the last episode of the series we are joined by legendary TV director Bill Mohin. The whole episode has a bit of a ‘last day of school’ chaotic energy and Bill’s film matches that vibe perfectly.   Due to overwhelming public demand, we also have the return of Taggy Checks for this episode, keeping everyone’s facts as accurate as possible.   As well as all that, we also find time to discuss shi...

This week we are joined by Instagram’s very own Maggie Smith (no, not that one). This Maggie is a model, content creator and star of the hit BBC Scotland show The Agency: Unfiltered. Maggie is very much online, so has brought along her legacy media savvy nephew Alex (and his jotter) to help build their dream James Bond adventure. Alongside the usual discussion of actors, directors, and music we al...

It’s BAFTAs week! To celebrate we are joined by top industry insider, Jacob Stolworthy. By day, Jacob is the Chief Culture Reporter at the Independent and by night he hosts the Lost Boys Podcast. He loves all things film, demonstrating his passion by picking a Bond movie laden with the best and brightest of Hollywood’s current talent. Inevitably we talk quite a lot about Lost, but also find time t...

Hope you are still feeling festive because this week is our unofficial Christmas special! To help us deck the halls we are joined by Glasgow based singer/songwriter Kirsteen Harvey. Kirsteen is firmly on the nice list this year, but admits to not being much of a Bond fan and describes the film she builds on this week’s episode as “terrible”. Despite that, we have plenty of festive fun talking abou...

Feel the chill this week as we are joined by queen of the uncanny, Evelyn Hollow. In our first episode ever recorded from the other side, Evelyn takes a bit of a break from life as a paranormal psychologist to build a Bond film that is firmly grounded in the realm of the living. Best known for her work on Spooked Scotland and the hit podcast Uncanny, Evelyn shows a slightly different side of herse...

Breaking News: Disney star in shocking Elon Musk forehead tirade… is what we would title this episode if we were a clickbait hungry news organisation. However, that doesn’t do justice to the contemplative and absorbing conversation we had with Rogue One and Andor star Duncan Pow. While talking us through the ups and occasional downs of his career to date, Duncan shares hilarious and heartwarming t...

‘God, this gin is strong…’ remarks television presenter, property expert and former model Amanda Lamb mid-way through this episode. At another point she describes herself as a ‘box full of kittens’. Both of these quotes should give you an accurate impression of what is an excitable, chaotic and absolutely hilarious episode of Build-A-Bond. Amanda is the perfect guest, meandering from opinion to an...

This week we are joined by one of the most interesting and thoughtful voices in Bond fandom, License to Queer’s David Lowbridge-Ellis MBE. David has made a name for himself exploring why James Bond appeals so much to LGBTQIA+ people and reappraising the Bond universe through queer lenses. Forhis Build-A-Bond, David makes things as difficult as possible for himself by enforcing multiple rules on hi...

Stuart is absolutely delighted to have the star of his favourite ever TV show on the podcast this week, Catriona Shearer from the news! Best known for her time on Reporting Scotland’s breakfast bulletins, Catriona discards her serious newsreader persona to take part in one of our funniest episodes to date. Build-A-Bond becomes ‘Blend-A-Bond’ as Catriona plays fast and loose with the format and cre...

Coming home from a bracing walk with your family, crashing on the sofa and settling down to watch a Bond film. That’s what Boxing Day has always been about, and this year its no different… Build-A-Bond is back! Season 5 starts off with a return to Craiglang, and a hilarious chat with the man behind one of its most popular residents. As well as playing iconic shopkeeper Navid in Still Game, Sanjeev...

To satisfy your thirsty ears ahead of a whole new series of Build-A-Bond (coming soon!) the BaB boys have got together for a very special in-person live recording. In the glamourous surroundings of Tollcross Leisure Centre, Fraser and Stuart are joined fresh off the court by BBL Trophy Champions, The Caledonia Gladiators. Jonny (C), Fraser, Patrick, Oscar, Jeremiah and Prince all sit round the tab...

We bring season four to an end with an absolute blast of an episode with broadcaster and presenter Sean McDonald. As Scotland’s third most popular podcast host, Sean is a natural storyteller and isn’t afraid to tackle some of society’s big issues – all laced with typical Scottish humour. Like all of the best Bond adventures, this week's episode swings from the serious, to the hilarious and occasio...

Building Bonds is all in a day's work for Kim Sherwood, the acclaimed novelist tasked by the Fleming Estate with writing a new trilogy of James Bond novels for the next generation. Kim describes James Bond as one of the enduring loves of her life and being given the chance to write 007 spy novels was the fulfilment of a childhood dream for her. But will she be as successful developing a big screen...

This week on the podcast we are joined by Etienne Kubawabo; writer, filmmaker, early riser and the creator Scotland’s first-ever black superhero - DJ E.T.  Etienne is proud to draw inspiration from his own life journey for his comic book work, and does the same when building his own dream James Bond adventure.  We hear about his experience watching Bond films in Democratic Republic of Co...

Buenos días Build-A-Bond fans, this week we come to you (partially) live from sunny Spain where Fraser joins DJ and presenter Sam Pinkham by the pool and Stuart nobly holds the fort back in Blighty. The setting isn’t the only glamorous part of todays episode as Sam designs his dream James Bond film. Alongside talking about actors, directors and musicians, we discuss titanic reunions, kitesurfing a...

Build-A-Bond fans love listening to two grumpy Scottish guys talking nonsense and bickering with each other. With that in mind, we can’t think of a better guest for the show than the BAFTA award winning director Michael Hines – best known for his work on legendary sitcom Still Game. As well as building his dream James Bond outing, Michael has plenty of anecdotes from his time directing every episo...

It has sometimes been said that the Build-A-Bond lads are in desperate need of a makeover, so who better to get on the show that Scotland’s most glamorous glow-up combo; Jamie and Alannah (a.k.a the 'Style Fixers') TV presenters, hair and make-up artists and drag performers, Jamie and Alannah have opted to put their friendship to the test by building their film together. They laugh, they cry and t...

It’s not Boxing Day without a Bond film and we are making a splash with our special guest for this year’s festive extravaganza! Three-time paralympic medallist Liz Johnson is out of the pool and into the Build-a-Bond hotseat. Liz talks about her challenging rise to the very pinnacle of paralympic success and how life changed for her after winning gold. We also discuss watching Bond in Brazil, 007'...

“Gary’s here? great!” Statistically speaking, if you turn on a Scottish TV at any given time then you will most likely be watching this week’s guest in action. Gary Lamont cut his teeth on some of Scotland’s most loved shows and now plies his trade alongside some of the biggest names in film and TV. Gary regales us with tales from his fantastic career, has some heartfelt reflections on River City...

Do you think that I can get some quality entertainment in the from of an award winning Scottish comedian building their own dream James Bond film? Yes you can – this weeks episode sees Scots born (but US based) actor, writer and comedian Rachel Jackson take on the BaB challenge. If you’ve seen one of Rachels shows, or follow her on social media, then you will know exactly what to expect from this...

Series 4 starts with a bang as we invite film, TV,  and culture commentator Ashanti Omkar to construct her own dream 007 adventure.  Ashanti draws from every genre and from all corners of the world as she builds a film that matches her reputation as a champion of diversity and representation. As a BRIT and BAFTA voter, Ashanti is a fountain of knowledge about films, TV and music - the pe...

Its the most wonderful time of the year, time for a new season of Build-A-Bond! We've got a whole new set of amazing guests, and they're still coming up with unique and interesting takes on the 007 franchise.  Its the same format that you know and love, but this season we've made a few little changes...  Episode 1 goes live on Monday 5th December then a new episode every Monday. Find out...

High performance athlete, beloved national treasure and podcast description writer Stuart Morrison is this week’s Build-a-Bond special guest. As the original creator of the format, he’s had plenty of time to think about his picks, but also plenty of time to change his mind... Its another extra long, extra special bonus episode with plenty of controversy and even a little bit of agreement. There is...

Writer, producer, director and occasional podcast host Fraser McArthur is more familiar with life behind the camera, but now has the spotlight shining on him. Will his years of harsh guest criticism come back to haunt him? or will he produce a box office smash? Its no rules, and he knows it - Fraser takes full liberty with the show’s famously flexible format and indulges in a gluttony of picks fro...

You asked for it, and now you’ve got it! They are used to criticising other peoples picks, but now it’s the turn of Fraser and Stuart to sit in the Build-a-Bond hotseat themselves. For two very special episodes, your usual hosts will be building their own James Bond films. To make things even more interesting, we’ve called in a couple of your favourite previous BaB guests help with the hosting, an...