Another aspect of "Casino Royale" that has been a hot topic of discussion between fans is how close the film will be to Ian Fleming's original 1953 novel. "We hope to follow the book at least in part of the film. The book itself is too short to make up an entire film." This rationale would explain the additional location of South Africa to the production plans, with Prague looking like the more traditional setting for Fleming's material.

So how has James Bond survived for over forty years and twenty films? It's all about continuity and change, and getting the balance just right. Wilson agrees, "It's evolve or die in our business. Our films have evolved. They've been small mysteries, like Dr. No and From Russia With Love; big spectaculars, like Thunderball, Moonraker and Die Another Day, with the ice palace; they've been comedies, some of the Roger Moore ones; and more dark ones with Timothy Dalton. They've been all kinds of things."

But some things must stay the same, whatever the current trends, fashion or political climate. Wilson explained the core essentials, "Bond being a man of integrity, working for the British intelligence service, incorruptible, being fairly single-minded about what he does. You follow Bond on a plot or story that takes you to exotic places, meet interesting people along the way, women, interesting villains."

Alongside his enormous input as co-producer, Wilson also enjoys Hitchcock-esque cameo roles in a number of the films in many different guises. "Hitchcock was a better actor! While I'm not superstitious, it's become kind of a tradition." His favourite cameo? "I was an Orthodox priest in one, marrying people. That wasn't bad."

It all started back in 1964 when Cubby Broccoli was leaving for Fort Knox during production of "Goldfinger". Dana and Wilson saw him off. Wilson, who was on break from law school that summer, was dressed very lightly. Broccoli said on the tarmac: "Too bad you don't have your passport with you. I could use you." Wilson said: "I just happen to have it in my back pocket!" So he boarded the plane and bought clothes and toiletries in Kentucky. He ran script pages and doubled for actors in long-distance shots: "It was kind of fun." Then he went back to school, his lark over