News about Ian Fleming

Having separated from his second wife only last year, Zac Goldsmith might be expected to take things rather slowly when it comes to romance. His latest girlfriend has, however, left the former Tory minister so shaken and stirred that he has already popped the question. The Daily Mail can disclose that Lord Goldsmith, 49, has got engaged to Hum Fleming, 34, whose great-uncle was James Bond author Ian Fleming. 'They are engaged,' a friend confirmed last night. 'Hum was wearing a big sparkler on a night out in Mayfair this week and said she and Zac were to be married.'

Holidaying at the old home of spy novelist Ian Fleming in Jamaica, Julia Llewellyn Smith is in 007th heaven with her husband (the name's James)

Hats off to Daniel Craig. The 56-year-old star could hardly be trying harder, after those five James Bond films in 15 years, to shrug off the image of Ian Fleming's ultra-heterosexual alpha-male super-spy.  First Craig played the discreetly gay master detective Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out films, and now he has cast discretion aside altogether in the torridly physical Queer, which had its world premiere last night at the Venice Film Festival.

Data unearthed via the Freedom of Information Act shows the extent to which the legacy of Covid continues - some four years after the pandemic - to gum up the engine room of government. The numbers are scarcely believable: of the 36,613 Whitehall staffers for whom data is available, a mere 12,308 can be found at the office where they are based on a normal weekday. That equates to 33.6 per cent. Or almost a third. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the departments with the fewest employees going into the office tend to also be the worst-performing.

Fleming worked for Churchill's spy network - the Special Operations Executive (SEO) - during his stint in naval intelligence in World War Two. SOE agents were tasked with sabotage and espionage operations and were based deep underground in London's Higher Holborn area - east of Covent Garden. In the mid 1950s the tunnels were used as a base for protected telephone exchange during the Cold War. It became the 'hotline' between the Kremlin and the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Now, Camden Council has approved plans to turn the Kingsway ­Exchange Tunnels into a tourist attraction subject to conditions.

It might be the view - looking across the surface of a shimmering sea - or the location in an iconic city. It may be the decor: grand chandeliers, works of art, designer furniture. Or a wonderful pool or terrace for cocktails at sunset. Or perhaps it's an unusual history - an ambiance of famous guests gone by. Maybe you even fell in love there. Most people have a favourite hotel - one that brings back some of our fondest, most treasured memories. So we've asked some of the best-travelled people in Britain, from broadcasters to writers, explorers and some of the most senior industry figures, to reveal their favourite hotels in the world.

A music festival at a theme park owned by a successful children's author has been cancelled after it emerged the event appeared to have been organised by his nephew without his permission. An application for a birthday party at Grade I listed Hoveton House in Norfolk - owned by Bewilderwood series writer Tom Blofeld - was lodged with the local authority. But Norfolk Police and North Norfolk District Council objected, amid suspicions the bash at the site of the child-friendly Bewilderwood theme park was actually a cover for a music festival called Earworm. The occasion, according to documents filed in May by Mr Blofeld's nephew Zephyr Blofeld, an Extinction Rebellion activist, was 'Tom's Birthday Party '24' and included a request to sell alcohol and have DJs playing until 3am.

A company that wants to turn Second World War tunnels under London into a major tourist attraction will list in Amsterdam, in the latest blow to the City. The London Tunnels confirmed yesterday that it has abandoned plans to float on the London stock market in favour of the Euronext exchange.

The nation's most popular beaches are never more spectacular than at summer's height, but they're also busy. So, how to sidestep the crowds and find a more tranquil spot by the shore? Britain's thousands of miles of coastline means there's plenty of lesser known stretches to enjoy, from wild Scottish strands to classic bucket-and-spade beaches and Caribbean-esque Cornish idylls. Here's our pick.

My selection of delicious drinks for Father's Day (16 June) is curated to reflect distinct personalities. For the 'innovative' dad, top bubbles from a young yet acclaimed Spanish wine region. For the 'cool' dad, a cheeky canned cocktail that really hits the spot. For the 'suave' dad, a delicious UK-made vermouth revered by top mixologists. And for the 'classic' dad, a food-friendly red wine that appeals to a multitude of palates.

Anthony Horowitz has waded in on the sensitivity row which saw Roald Dahl's books rewritten to remove 'offensive' language and said he won't have 'people telling me what I have to do'. The 69-year-old best-selling British author was asked by the Ian Fleming estate to write three continuation books of the James Bond books With a Mind to Kill, Trigger Mortis and Forever and a Day. But when asked how he changed his versions to suit a modern audience, the Alex Rider novelist refuted the question and said: 'The first thing I did not do was update it for a modern audience.'

Theo James cut a casual figure as he went for to a local gym in Venice Beach, California, on Wednesday. The Gentlemen star, 39, displayed his gym-honed phyique as he sported a grey T-shirt and matching shorts for the outing. Theo, who also starred in the Divergent film series, carried a black bag and water bottle with him for the trip. 

He's currently on a seemingly never-ending carousel of contenders for the still vacant, and still highly coveted role as secret agent James Bond. But Theo James and his chosen beverage could easily have left the Martini-loving MI6 agent shaken, not stirred during his appearance at a basketball game on Tuesday night. James, 39 - currently winning plaudits for his starring role in Guy Ritchie 's Netflix series The Gentlemen - necked lager from a plastic cup as he watched the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Dallas Mavericks.

It details how Sean Connery ended up being cast in the iconic role, despite Hollywood producers considering a female Bond, believing it might give the film greater appeal. According to The Telegraph, Russian-American film director Gregory Ratoff pushed the idea after he bought the rights to Casino Royale for around £50,000. Written by Nicholas Shakespeare, the biography states: 'Since the mid-1950s, many well-known actors had been approached. Gregory Ratoff had the arresting idea of having Bond played by a woman, Susan Hayward.'

EMILY PRESCOTT: She was the glittering star of the Brit Awards, but Raye (pictured) struggles to remain out of the limelight, mostly on social media. The 26-year-old, left, has revealed a startling conversation with her therapist, when she was asked: 'When do you feel like the voices in your head are being most evil to you?' 'When I'm on social media, I'm telling you.' With South Londoner Raye's real name Rachel Keen realizing that social media was causing more harm than good, the Brit School sham has given her passwords to a trusted friend to use her accounts. As a result of a cooling-off period, she now has a five-minute window if she ever wants to post something, and she also has a separate phone reserved solely for her social media pages.

Bond Girls are being watched by Euphoria actresses Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson's 007. Although it has been widely reported that 33-year-old actor Aaron had previously been given the role of the ultra-suave British spy created by novelist Ian Fleming, reports close to the film have now stated that there are huge plans to reach Sydney, 26, and Zendaya, 27, to play his on-screen love interest. Barbara Broccoli, the franchise's executive producer, was keen to bring a young actress to play the iconic femme fatale role, according to a report published exclusively by DailyMail.com.

Pierce Brosnan has expressed support for the prospect that Aaron Taylor-Johnson will replace him as James Bond. Taylor-Johnson, 33, has formerly been on the job of the ultra-suave British spy created by novelist Ian Fleming, according to news. Brosnan, 70, shot to international prominence in four films from GoldenEye in 1995 to Die Another Day in 2002.

It's all happening in British and Irish television, with big-budget John Le Carney, Cockney obsters, and murder in Calder Valley. We've compiled a list of the 20 best thrillers to watch On Demand right now, sifting through thousands of options to save you the hassle. Looking for a new series to stream? Find out which shows it's worth investing your time in...

Now that Daniel Craig has slipped into his last tuxedo as 007 James Bond from five film series, there has been a lot of rumors over who will play the iconic role. George Lazenby, who played the fictional character created by British journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), is one man who knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a debonair shadow agent. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, a British actor, has been given the opportunity to land the role, and the ladies are thrown at the beloved man who routinely saves the world.

According to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the age rating of two James Bond films would have been raised if they were rereleased today due to the representation of violence and sexual assault. During a public consultation, Goldfinger and From Russia With Love, both starring Sir Sean Connery and which were released in the 1960s, were discussed as films audiences believe should be more conservative. The inquiry, which involved 12,000 people from around the United Kingdom, aided in the development of the new BBFC classification guidelines, which were released on Tuesday.

Hum Fleming, the Lord's great niece, grabbed the attention of many this week as she was seen wining and dining with the Lord in a cosy Mayfair haunt. As they headed out for a stroll in west London the smiling pair were seen leaving his £5 million Holland Park home side-by-side. Hum, 34, a public relations specialist, has made a name for herself in London's social scene, most notably with former Made in Chelsea actor Millie Mackintosh, Lady Kitty Spencer, and other Notting Hill celebrities.

Ted Thornhill of MailOnline Travel visited Raffles, London, which is located across the street from Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace's formal entrance. The service is faultless, and guests are ensconced in grandeur and exquisite luxury in a post-card perfect location,' he writes. This vast dazzling hotel, which opened as a Raffles hotel in September 2023, is stuffed to the gills with thrilling history.'

Ian Fleming's 007 is depicted as the archetypical MI6 agent, a suave, white, Oxbridge-educated man with a penchant for high-life and a natural gift of seduction. However, MI6 will launch a drive this week to bring more black and Asian spies into the fold. Two of the company's black and Asian directors will talk on BBC radio for the first time in history. It's also the first time MI6 has confirmed that it employs ethnic minorities at such a senior level. They report to chief Sir Richard Moore, C., and his three director-generals, who are all women.

Ellie Goulding's 'close friendship' with her singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding came as a surprise, particularly when pictures of her frolicking with a stubbish surfing instructor appeared last week. But after two years of non-stop-start with married Ellie Goldsmith, Tory peer Zac Goldsmith is on a roll, with model and socialite Hum Fleming, 34, whose great-uncle James Bond author Ian Fleming. A 'Zac believes she's wonderful,' a source told the Journal. They've been together for seven weeks, but they are obviously mad about her and want it to work out this time.' Hum was introduced by father-of-six Zac, 49, to his two youngest children for the first time over dinner at Mayfair's 5 Hertford Street on Thursday evening. Zac and Hum were seen leaving his £5 million Holland Park home and taking a stroll before returning.