Join the beloved Fast Show writer, actor and comedian, who in his secret double life has also authored six official James Bond books, in a special edition of our famous annual Crime & Wine Evening to celebrate all things 007. 

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Charlie Higson started writing when he was ten years old. After university he was a singer and painter and decorator before he started writing for television. He went on to create and star in the hugely successful comedy series The Fast Show, with its many characters and rapid-fire sketches. Other TV work includes Randall & Hopkirk Deceased. He remains a genuine James Bond aficionado. 

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Like many of us, Charlie first encountered James Bond as a kid, through the films and then the original novels. For his first assignment with the literary Bond, he created a series of highly successful books for younger readers: Young Bond.

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Then, to mark the 60th anniversary of Casino Royale, he was commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd to create a new grown-up Bond adventure, On His Majesty’s Secret Service, in which, two days before the coronation of King Charles III, the world’s favourite spy has his work cut out for him. Could Bond dismantle the shady plans of yet another villain?  

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We will also be joined by Simon Ward of Ian Fleming Publications itself, which curates the 007 literary legacy. Exciting publications also being celebrated this year are former FLF guest Vaseem Khan’s brilliant standalone adventure for the beloved character Q, Quantum of Menace, and a collection of Ian Fleming’s rarely-seen other writings, Talk of the Devil. The evening will also feature a special opportunity to buy Raymond Benson’s authorised Felix Leiter thriller, The Hook and the Eye. 

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Plus we’ll all learn how to mix the perfect martini, courtesy of East Coast Distillery. Shaken or stirred?