Licence To Queer

What a busy month in Bond! As well as May Day (honouring Grace Jones of course) there were two other bank holidays, one of which was for the King's coronation, which inspired the plot of the newest Bond book, On His Majesty's Secret Service . David chatted with Charlie Higson himself about it, both at the official London launch and on the LTQ podcast. David also co-hosted with Kim Sherwood...

In this spoiler-filled chat, David Lowbridge-Ellis delves deeply into all aspects of On His Majesty’s Secret Service with its author, Charlie Higson. No topic is off limits. David and Charlie get stuck into the core of the thrilling story, exploring the real life inspirations for the villain and his dastardly plot. They also tackle the really important questions, such as: should we trust someone i...

The Fast and Furious films scratch many of the same itches as the Bond series. Is that why they're so successful? Antony and David give their thoughts about the latest installment in this superbly camp franchise, including its queer representation. Mild spoilers.

Kim Sherwood and David Lowbridge-Ellis celebrate 70 Years of Bond by getting together with an audience to talk all things Fleming. They start off by sharing their funny first encounters with the Bond books (both involved naked men as it happens!) before discussing the best order in which to read them. Kim and David get stuck into the subtle - and less subtle! - differences between the films and bo...

Half of April was taken up with our trip to Japan and we won't repeat anything about that here (see our three previous episodes for that). But even in the latter two weeks of the month, there has been a lot of Bond action, including our preparations for joining His Majesty's Secret Service (the Coronation and the new novel by Charlie Higson) and our big fundraiser for the year: Donate Anot...

The Japanese assignment continues with a mission report from the world’s busiest train station. Antony and David relate their remaining Tokyo adventures, including cherry blossom viewings and visiting a location from The Wolverine (2013).  Their next report comes from aboard a ‘Romance Express’ (like the one referred to by Tanaka in the novel of You Only Live Twice) travelling from Kyoto to Osaka....

Recorded live in the reception area of my hotel in Osaka, Japan this is a conversation with Eisuke Ochiai (@inspiredbybond on Instagram). We talk about Bond's place in Japanese culture before launching into our experiences with 'Casino Royale - My Name is Bond', a unique theatrical experience: not only is it the first stage musical of a James Bond story but it is performed by an all fe...

Recorded in Heathrow airport and two very different bars in Tokyo. Starting off their trip to Japan (for both their wedding anniversary and Antony's birthday), Antony and David sip Negronis in the departure lounge while giving their perspective on Bond travel, including how to do it on a budget. After arriving in Tokyo, they have more cocktails in a key location from You Only Live Twice and fi...

David and Antony discuss Michelle Yeoh's Oscar win, the 70th anniversary Fleming controversy, the first 007GB Club meet up, 40th anniversaries of Octopussy and Never Say Never Again, bumping into Aaron Taylor-Johnson (and THAT Calvin Klein photoshoot!), seeing Bond alumni in Jumpin' Jack Flash. This month's cocktail (which they make live) is a new one: the Wai Lin, which is one of the...

It has never made logical sense for Bond to choose a train over a plane, but that hasn’t stopped the 007 series making sleeper trains synonymous with romance and excitement. Why fly when you can travel by rail? David relates his and his husband's recent experience on a sleeper train (The Caledonian Sleeper) and compare it with Bond's experiences in the films and books.

In this informal chat (while they make Sunday lunch and cocktails), Licence to Queer creator David and his husband Antony reflect on the previous month and all the Bond-related things they have experienced. It's been a busy month! Discussion includes developments in 007GB Club (David is the Editor, Antony a member), the re-release of GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo Switch and Xbox, booking tickets to a...

Diamonds Are Forever may be one of the more bizarre Bond films but the early drafts by Richard Maibaum make the finished film look quite sane by comparison! Granted access to the Eon archives, film scholar Tom Mason shared with me what he had uncovered: possible versions of Diamonds Are Forever which are, by turns, ahead of their time AND positively deranged. You're not going to believe what Diamo...

We always wanted to have Christmas in Cuba! On the final full day of our holiday, we look back on the experiences we've had in Havana over the Christmas period, make several Bond connections and share some of the funny things that have happened along the way. There's no intro or fancy editing for this episode as it was a nightmare just getting the computer to work in any way with the state wi-fi....

No shade, but is M's death supposed to be... funny?!

Severine has attracted a great deal of attention from academics writing about James Bond, with many finding the character to be a regressive step for the series’ portrayal of female characters. But she is one of the most appealing elements of the film for many queer viewers. Although she is undoubtedly a tragic character, subject to the whims of a succession of men, she is not entirely disempowere...

Like Bond, Silva was once a blunt instrument: something to be wielded by the British Establishment but without ever being admitted to the Establishment himself. Also like Bond, Silva is haunted by his past. However, the similarities run out of road here… In the absence of a chosen family like the one Bond has, something has steadily eaten away at Silva - and I’m not just talking about cyanide.

We all face societal pressure to prioritise relationships with blood relations over relationships with people to who we aren’t genetically connected. But, for some of us, this is not desirable or, as in Bond’s case, possible. Even so, Bond is never truly alone.

If Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz is to be believed, there's no place like home. But what if that home is Skyfall? In his 50th anniversary queer odyssey, 00-Dorothy doesn’t just kick back against traditional notions of home and family; along the way he creates a unconventional family to replace the one he lost and blows up his childhood abode with dynamite. Talk about cathartic!

60 years ago, when the movie Bond began, England’s most popular actor was Dirk Bogarde, a closeted gay man. Dirk was even approached to play Bond. But big Bogarde fan Callum McKelvie is glad the matinee idol never donned 007’s tux (although he would have looked great in it).   Check out Callum's article at www.licencetoqueer.com

There are so many pitfalls when it comes to creating a gay character who is realistic, sympathetic and unstereotypical that it’s probably not surprising that most writers don’t even bother trying. With Joseph Dryden, the first gay Double-0, Kim Sherwood shows everyone how it should be done. You can also check out further Double or Nothing coverage at www.licencetoqueer.com, including my review, co...

Callum McKelvie joins me for a special Spectre-al episode taking a light-hearted look at the horror elements in the Bond films and novels. We uncover the spookiest skeletons in Bond's closet and get very personal when exploring why queers like us are drawn to the macabre. You can read Callum's original article about horror in Bond here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/spectre-al-visions-queers...

I am joined by Ian Fleming Publications' Managing Director Corinne Turner and Publishing Manager Simon Ward, following their announcement that they will be bringing the publication of all Ian Fleming titles 'in house' for the 70th anniversary of Bond. We discuss what this means for existing fans, their plans for attracting new audiences, the diversity of Fleming aficionados, new cover concepts and...

Dr Brendan J. Dunlop, a Principal Clinical Psychologist in the NHS, clinical lecturer and author of The Queer Mental Health Workbook , helps me analyse James Bond’s mental health experiences and suggests ways he could find some solace. I regularly write about Bond's psychology and mental health more generally but I thought it was about time I spoke with an expert on the topics. Dr Dunlop is doubly...

Of the five senses, smell is not something we talk enough about in relation to Bond. This is somewhat ironic considering that this is the very first sense Fleming triggers, setting in motion decades years of olfactory curiosity, especially when it comes to gender. This is a podcast recording of an article which you can read here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/blog/pour-homme-pour-femme-and-for-ev...

Matt Carter's new film, In From The Side, is about a romance between two gay rugby players. In this conversation we tackle (sorry!) avoiding 'gay film' cliches, different masculinities, alternatives to monogamy, drinking culture and how to shoot sex scenes intimately but tastefully. Check out my earlier conversation with Matt, about his 'gay James Bond' film here: https://www.licencetoqueer.com/bl...