It was announced a while back, that the new Bond film would have its release delayed yet again.

Yes, I fully understand the reasons why, but I can’t help but feel a little devastated.

I can’t tell you how much I have been looking forward to seeing this film.

Initially scheduled for release in Feb 2020, it got pushed back to April 2020 because of Covid.

And then it was pushed further out, to November 2020, as the pandemic continued.

And then April 2021.

And then October 2021.

Aarrgghh!

I’m a huge Bond fan (James, not Brook or Basildon) and I have to admit that my initial doubts about having Daniel Craig in the titular role, completely vanished after seeing his first outing in Casino Royale.

Whilst many cite Sean Connery as their favourite Bond, for a long time mine was Roger Moore. Live and Let Die was the very first Bond film I saw and I can remember – as an eleven-year old – queueing to see it with my parents, outside the rather tatty Odeon in town, in a line that stretched halfway down the street. You don’t see that kind of thing happening anymore.

And I think The Man With The Golden Gun was the first film where I went to the pictures and saw it on my own.  So grown up.

Lazenby and Dalton did little for me, but I took a real liking to Pierce Brosnan’s Bond – his portrayal was probably the nearest to how I had imagined Bond when reading the books.  But then it all got a bit silly under his tenure, with the invisible cars and whatnot. (Bond? Silly? Surely not – Ed.)

But yes, Craig rejuvinated the franchise, with a more realistic and grittier Bond, and I liked that.

A lot.

So, I’m really excited to see the new film. It’s aptly titled “No Time To Die” and – with the Covids still knocking at my door – I’ll be right pissed off if the plague takes me before I get a chance to see it.

And with a potential third wave hitting our shores sometime soon, I wonder whether we will ever get to see it.

But, for now, the good news is that with Covid infection rates currently falling (mostly), they have decided to bring the film’s release date forward.

By one week.

One week!

You’re teasing me, Mr Bond.