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Bond & Beyond

A new podcast dedicated to the world's favourite secret agent. Every fortnight, Alex Boucher and James Batchelor delve into the world of Bond - not just the films that made him famous, but the original novels, video games and the many, many other characters inspired by him.
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Now displaying: 2020
Dec 12, 2020

With the announcement that Hitman developer IO Interactive is working on a new James Bond game, Alex and James are joined by friend of the show and game developer Simon Smith to discuss 007's track record with video games.

Naturally, a good chunk of this show is dedicated to our hopes for IO's new game, but we also explore the lack of James Bond games in the past decade, some of the best titles from before that, and why Goldeneye 64 might have been the worst thing to happen to James Bond games.

If you want to email us, you can do so via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. You can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

Nov 20, 2020

Following the fun we had with our Ranking The Bond Songs episode, we attempt to rank something even more challenging: the villains.

Alex Shaw of the School of Movies podcast - and author of the New Century Multiverse series - joins us to weigh up each Bond villain's plot based on how dangerous (or not) it is to the world.

Some want to start a war. Some just want to make money. Some want to start a war to make money. But all are off their rocker, and now we have definitively ranked how villainous they truly are.

If you want to spoil the results for yourself, you can check out the final list here.

Want to share your thoughts on our rankings? Email via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. Or you can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

Nov 4, 2020

Following the sad news of Sean Connery's passing, Alex and James pay tribute to the man who defined James Bond for so many people.

We reflect on his varied career and some of his best roles, the quality of his performance as James Bond, some of his most iconic moments, his surprising final turn as 007 and more.

Want to share your thoughts and memories of Sir Sean? Email us via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. Or you can find us on Facebook (just search ‘Bond & Beyond’), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

Oct 14, 2020

Alex and James are joined by Richard and Nia Setters – our first Bond fan couple. 

The Setterses talk us through a particularly important coping mechanism for the COVID lockdown: a James Bond marathon. Every Monday night, they have watched a Bond film - from Dr No to Spectre. 

We discuss the highs and lows of the series, their thoughts on the best and worst Bonds, and an intriguing alternative form of marathon: Curry Bond.

If you want to email us, you can do so via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. You can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

Oct 10, 2020

Alex and James are joined by friend of the show and regular guest Gez to discuss the terrible news: No Time To Die has been delayed. Again.

Bond fans now have to wait until April 2021 to see 007's 25th outing, so in the meantime we kill about 40 minutes of the five-month extension to our wait by discussing: 

The Billie Eilish No Time To Die music video. The experience of going to the cinema during a pandemic. The Bondness of Tenet. The passing of Diana Rigg and Michael Lonsdale. Rumours that Tom Hardy or Henry Cavill could be the next Bond. Our worries for Bond 26 and the series' 60th anniversary. And many other things.

If you want to email us, you can do so via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. You can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

Sep 3, 2020

With what is likely to be the final trailer for No Time To Die now availabe, Alex and James share their thoughts on this tantalising glimpse into Daniel Craig’s last outing.

Tune in for a lot of excitement, a little apprehension and probably more speculation than is healthy give the trailer is less than three minutes long.

Want to share your thoughts on the trailer? Email via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. Or you can find us on Facebook (just search ‘Bond & Beyond’), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

Aug 5, 2020

James, Alex and special guest Sam attempt the unwise, perhaps the impossible: ranking the Bond title songs from best to worst.

Setting themselves a strict(ish) time limit, our triumvirate picks apart each and every Bond anthem, weighing them up against each other as well as how well they stand up today. Some choices were easy, others were hard and heart-breaking.

If you want to spoil the results for yourself, you can check out our final rankings here. This also includes the listener rankings as gathered via Facebook and Twitter (Thank you to everyone who took part).

Want to share your thoughts on our rankings? Email via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. Or you can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

May 20, 2020

Following our look at Bond elements appearing in animated and family films, James and Alex turn their attention towards TV.

Once again, we're not discussing straight up Bond parodies or homages such as Archer, Chuck or Alias. Instead, we're looking at specific moments that pay tribute to film's most famous spy and unpack the elements of the Bond formula that people most instantly recognise.

Join us for a journey that takes us from Friends and Frasier, through Alan Partridge and The Muppets, via THAT Simpsons epiosde, and even a long-lost sketch where Roger Moore performed as 007 almost a decade before Live and Let Die.

Think of one we've missed? Email via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. Or you can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

May 1, 2020

Alex and James look beyond Bond to see how 007 is honoured, referenced and even mocked in animated family films. 

Given the series' history of 50-plus years, it's no surprise that hallmarks of the Bond films appear in other movies but which key ingredients of 007's outings do people draw from?

Our rambling discussion takes us from The Incredibles to Spies In Disguise, through Avengers and Bolt, and even to films as random as Monty Python's The Life Of Brian.

Think of one we've missed? Email via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. Or you can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

Mar 23, 2020

Hello, remember us?

James and Alex are back with a short announcement: we're hosting a watch party, where we all gather on Facebook to share comments and thoughts on a classic James Bond film as we watch at the same time.

We are starting (as Cubby's Law dictates) with Dr No, the 1962 big screen debut of Ian Fleming's superspy. We'll be pressing 'play' at 9pm GMT on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, and you can join in the fun right here: https://www.facebook.com/events/852079118641361/

And, since it's been a while, we fill the rest of the episode by just chatting about Bond, including a few more thoughts on the now-delayed No Time To Die. 

Looking forward to watching where it all began with you all on Wednesday.

If you want to email us, you can do so via bondandbeyondpod@gmail.com. You can find us on Facebook (just search 'Bond & Beyond'), Twitter (@bondbeyondpod) and all our episodes are at bondbeyondpod.tumblr.com.

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