November 30th, 2011

Following the announcement on the 3rd November that the 23rd Bond Film will be called Skyfall and is to be released in October 2012, the rumours have been flying thick and fast.

Will Adele sing the theme song (always a guaranteed route to cultural permanence)? Will this be Daniel Craig’s last Bond film? Will the budgets equal those lavished on Quantum of Solace? And crucially, does the starry cast list demonstrate Mendes’s determination to make this a multi-Oscar winner?

Craig’s fellow cast members include Dame Judi Dench – upon whose character, M, this film focuses – Albert Finney, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw.

As filming started in London on Monday 7th November, the paparazzi came out in force, capturing stills of Craig emerging from a Range Rover. Confirmed London locations include Smithfield Market, Whitehall and – predominantly – Pinewood Studios.

Champagne Bollinger has been Bond’s champagne of choice since its first appearance on screen in ‘Live and Let Die’ in 1973, when the Brocolli-Wilson family decided that Bollinger best represented Bond’s impeccable taste.

Our big question is which Bollinger Cuvée will feature – something that might not even be announced until the film is shown. What do you think? It was Bollinger R.D. 1975 in View to a Kill, and Bollinger R.D. 1969 in Moonraker, both of which Bond recognised by vintage. Do follow this blog for more Bond Bollinger moments, which we will be covering over the next few months as filming continues.