'V' is for... Victoria [Episode 203]

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton interviews Calvin Dyson, one of the first people to set up a 007-themed Youtube channel, and asks 'Which is the 'most British' James Bond film?'. Don't worry, we *do* talk about the TV animated series 'James Bond Jr.'! https://www.youtube.com/calvindysonThomas adds a fun fact about the ending For Your Eyes Only, which ultimately comes from the John Glen book 'For My Eyes Only', hardback edition page 115. It did not come from 'a man down the pub'. www.AlbionNeverDies.com Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton continues The Alphabet of Britishness, looking especially at Queen Victoria.The first ten minutes covers:Thomas’ top three cinematic and TV depictions of Queen VictoriaMrs. Brown (1997)The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)Doctor Who “Tooth and Claw” (modern season 2, episode 2)...and also in brief some other 'V' topics such as:Victoria & Albert MuseumVauxhall (London)VermouthVesper (seems silly not to)Victory! Although perhaps we’ll cover this far more in the next installment…Vicar - again a great suggestion for a deep diveViceroy – check out my video and podcast episode looking at my top five books on the British Empire: www.youtube.com/britishcultureVickers machine gun The main part of this podcast comprises of two readings, one on the height of the Victorian Era, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897, and the second on The Great Exhibition of 1851.“Pax Britannica: The Climax of the Empire” by James / Jan Morris.“A Portrait of Britain Between the Exhibitions 1851 – 1951” by Donald Lindsay and E.S. Washington, part of the Oxford Introduction to British History series.Visit the website: https://albionneverdies.com/ Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton interviews the CEO of Shogun Films, Jonathan Sothcott.https://www.shogunfilms.com/Jonathan Sothcott is one of the UK's most experienced and successful independent producers with a track record of success with high concept, low budget genre films. Described by GQ Magazine as "a film producer behind a whole new generation of on-screen hardmen", a 2021 Sothcott profile piece in The Telegraph noted his movies "have saved our film industry."Over the years Sothcott has worked with a galaxy of stars including Ray Winstone, Danny Trejo, Lee Majors, Mark Hamill, Jason Statham, Michael Paré, Steven Berkoff, Richard E Grant, Charlie Cox and Sir Roger Moore.Notable successes amongst his 40+ feature credits include ‘Vendetta’, ‘We Still Kill The Old Way’ and ‘Renegades’. He set up Shogun Films in 2020 as a genuine international counterpoint of independence and the company has won a slew of awards recognising it's trailblazing approach. He has over 20 years of experience in the British film industry, and we discuss what makes a movie ‘British'?. We also discuss some of the best films of the 1980s, and the established stars at the time. We also discuss his forthcoming movie, ‘Knightfall’, currently in post-production:“Charles Knight, a paranoid former spy catcher, must work with his estranged daughter to foil an international terrorist plot, while surviving a terrifying home invasion in this explosive espionage thriller”.Before making his name in feature films, Sothcott produced documentaries and moderated DVD commentaries for numerous cult films, including The Wild Geese.Our topics include:Roger MooreRoger Moore’s son, Geoffrey MooreIan Ogilvy - an English actor, playwright and novelist best known as the star of the television series Return of the Saint (1978–79), in which he assumed the role of Simon Templar from Roger Moore (1962-69)The Fourth Protocol (1987) starring Pierce Brosnan and Micheal Caine, based on the 1984 book by British novelist Frederick Forsyth The debt that modern action movies owe to traditional 007 films The Wild Geese (1978) with Roger Moore, John Glen (second unit director) and Ewan Lloyd (producer)Joan Armatrading wrote and recorded the theme songIngrid Pitt, Polish-British actress and writer, most famous for her role in ‘Where Eagles Dare’ but also appeared in The Wild Geese IIThe Sea Wolves (1980), Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David NivenEwan Lloyd – BFI: “Lloyd stood alone within the depressed British film industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s as a producer with the self-belief, charisma and bluff to mount large-scale independent action-adventure films, such as The Wild Geese (1978) and Who Dares Wins (1982)". Lewis Collins, star of the TV movie, ‘Who Dares Wins’ (1982), also known as The Final Option, the star was the tabloid’s favourite for ‘next James Bond’ for some years due to his action star credentials   David Wickes, TV producer best known for his work on ‘The Sweeny’ ‘The Professionals’, and ‘CI5: The New Professionals’Jonathan recommends the TV show, ‘Roger Moore: A Matter of Class’, which is available to watch on Youtube.Finally, we discuss he state of the British film industry, and the way ahead.Visit the website: https://albionneverdies.com/Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton talks about life in the UK, examining local news in a little town in West Yorkshire and a visit to London. Whilst the national media is very London-centric, most Brits only see the capital on occasional visits - Thomas has only visited London once in 2025. So, that 'internal tourist' view is given for 10 minutes, with the majority of remaining 20 minutes focussing on local news: missing cats, a rogue roof tile, a swan on the loose, a surprise chocolate bar, a 100 year old being taken back to work (for a visit), local hooligans, criminals, and the prospects of Golden Arches in town. Plus, our swimming pool drama. This is life as it is truly led, here in the UK.Visit the podcast website: https://albionneverdies.com/Message Thomas anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: [email protected] out Thomas' Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out the Red Bubble shopSubscribe to the newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton celebrates his 200th podcast episode by setting out his most controversial opinion on the James Bond franchise: that 2002's Pierce Brosnan adventure, 'Die Another Day', is a great film. Not one that starts decent and then goes off the rails, not one that is good in concept and but fails in execution - it is an out and out fun action romp of the early 2000s.Thomas is fully aware that there are other opinions, and has taken much advice on this from the fan community. He has considered other these opinions, acknowledges them, and discusses them. Many thanks to those who have patiently (and kindly) explained *their* perspective. But, Thomas Felix Creighton likes Die Another Day, and that's what this episode is all about. As Madonna sings in the title sequence, 'Sigmund Freud, analyse this... I'm gonna break the cycle' (the cycle of fans not liking this film). Pierce Brosnan goes out with a bang.Visit the podcast website: https://albionneverdies.com/Message Thomas anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: [email protected] out Thomas' Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out the Red Bubble shopSubscribe to the newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton examines the Britishness of Timothy Dalton's first outing as Ian Fleming's creation, James Bond, 007.Part One: Brits in AfghanistanThomas touches on iconic imagery, such as the infamous painting, “The remnants of an army, Jellalabad [sic], January 13, 1842”, which is better known as just "Remnants of an Army". It was painted by Elizabeth Thompson, Lady Butler in 1878, and shows Dr. William Brydon, assistant surgeon in the Bengal Army, arriving at the gates of Jalalabad in January 1842. He was thought to be the only survivor of a massacre at The Khyber Pass. This is detailed in a book Thomas has recommended before, "The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia" by Peter Hopkirk, the chapter "Massacre in the Passes". For the sake of variety, Thomas reads from a book not previously covered in his episodes on the British Empire, namely, Jeremy Paxman's "Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British".If it wasn't clear in the episode (Thomas has been down with a cold and is still a tiny bit fuzzy), the 'British' were fighting in Afghanistan mainly to forestall any Russian influence there, as it was seen as the gateway to India. Not so different from James Bond's objectives in the movie, I suppose.Part Two: A Potpourri of Britishness Covering a shop with a dress code, British technology, Aston Martins, and country estates. Thomas can't resist referencing an American court case, Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc. Give me a harrier jump jet, or I'll sue...Part Three: Fleming. Ian Fleming.Again, seeking some measure of variety, Thomas reads two short sections from "The Life of Ian Fleming" by John Pearson, Fleming's friend and biographer. Two further biographies were consulted, especially the ones by Nicholas Shakespeare and Andrew Lycett, but Pearson's was better on this occasion. Thomas also refer to a collection of Fleming's writing recently released, named, "Talk of the Devil", possibly getting the title wrong. If he does get it wrong, he blames the cold.Hungry for more?Check out episodes 133 & 134, all about Gibraltar thanks to my friend Caine, who spent a weekend on The Rock purely to help out my podcast. Also, episode 189, an interview with the movie’s director, John Glen.Visit the podcast website: https://albionneverdies.com/Message Thomas anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: [email protected] out Thomas' Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out the Red Bubble shopSubscribe to the newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton was asked by his friend, and listener to this podcast, David Webber, ‘If you could live in any fantasy universe, which one would it be?’ – this podcast first looks at the concept of 'escapism' and then answers that question in detail!Thomas considers:The world of James Bond, 007A galaxy far, far away...The world of Harry PotterJ.R.R. Tolkien's Middle EarthA couple of extras are touched on at the end, Star Trek Voyager and Dr. Who, and a final verdict *is* given. The assumption is that Thomas is not the hero (or villain) of these worlds, and that the visit could be anything from one day to one year.Message Thomas anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: [email protected] out Thomas' https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out the Red Bubble shopSubscribe to the newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Host Thomas Felix Creighton and British novelist Roland Hulme talk about James Bond in the USA, particularly the three movies set there directed by Guy Hamilton; Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Live and Let Die (1973). Their talk ranges from Ian Fleming's original 007 novels to contemporary perspectives on American culture. Roland Hulme on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rolandhulme/Roland Hulme on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/rolandhulmeRoland Hulme on Amazon: Check out the "Knuckleheads Motorcycle Club" books.***Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: [email protected] out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards and presents, and at this time of year, Christmas cards: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton shares his parents’ letters, written from Kuwait in 1978, and reflects on their first experience as Brits in a non-Western country.A huge part of this channel is drawing on Thomas' international experience, so he regularly gets messages asking, ‘why did you live abroad?’ – The usual reply is, ‘My parents started it!’. So, not unreasonably, some people ask, ‘Okay, so why did your parents live abroad?’. One formative experience for the older Creighton generation was living in Kuwait 1978-1981. It was not Lee and Frank Creighton's first time overseas, they’d lived in Germany together already. But, Kuwait was a particularly impactful experience, and one they often both talked about. Germany was more familiar, they were with a much larger British Army contingent. Whereas in Kuwait, they were with the much smaller ‘Kuwait Liaison Team’ (KLT) team, and Kuwaiti culture very different from what Lee Creighton was familiar with. Frank had lived in Egypt and Aden (Yemen) as a child - again in British Army camps, but with ample opportunity to observe and interact with the local culture. Thomas reads three letters from his parents. The first, an e-mail sent in 2012, is a reflection on their time in Kuwait, 30 years later. The second, is Lee Creighton’s first letter to her parents in England, from Kuwait (1978). The third reading is Frank’s letter to Lee’s parents, also 1978. Thomas gives further reflections on his time in Saudi Arabia (2012/13), and uses that to remark on his parent’s recollections.For more, check out the 'podcast highlights' section of AlbionNeverDies.comhttps://www.albionneverdies.com/podcast-highlights/brits-in-the-desertMessage Thomas anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: [email protected] out Thomas' https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out the Red Bubble shopSubscribe to the newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Thomas Felix Creighton examines the Britishness of ‘Live and Let Die’, both the 1954 novel by Ian Fleming, and the 1973 movie starring Roger Moore. Contributors include British author in the USA, Roland Hulme, New York based Youtuber Alex Lamas (Always say YES to Adventure), and blogger and writer Matt Spaiser (Bondsuits.com). The main interview at the end is with Peter Brooker, co-author of ‘From Tailors With Love’ (with Matt Spaiser) and ‘Boy Wanted on Saville Row’, a biography of Sir Timothy Everest. You can also find him at his podcast, ‘There Will Be Bond’, which is available from all great podcasting apps.The podcast in in three main parts:An examination of the 1954 novel, and what made it a best-seller in the UK. If JFK made 007 a household name in the USA, what made him a best-seller here in the UK years before? The Suez Canal Crisis, and the author’s high society connections, played a vital part.Heading towards the 1973 movie features contributions from Roland Hulme examining ‘the race question’, Alex Lamas giving a take on authentic portrayals of New York, and Matt Spaiser, also in New York giving an overview of the menswear featured in the film.  Finally, we have the interview with Pete Brooker, recorded in 2022, now released for the first time. Yes, that is the speed of my podcast, it’s analysis not news. He talks about having a shirt made from the same bolt of fabric, by the same shirtmaker, as the one worn by 007 in the movie.Books I reference include:·         Ian Fleming – the Complete Man, by Nicholas Shakespeare ·         The Life of Ian Fleming, by John Pearson·         The Man with the Golden Typewriter, edited by Fergus Fleming·         Some Kind of Hero – The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films, by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhry  ·         The 007 Diaries, by Roger Moore Recommended Rabbit Hole: K. Hagen · The Spectre of “Bloody Morgan”: Ian Fleming’s Use of the Pirate Motif (available online): International Journal of James Bond Studies · Vol. 1, Issue 2 · Spring 2018 www.albionneverdies.com Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: [email protected] out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shop (...and thank you to the listener in Germany who ordered an 'A is for Albion' mug recently!)Subscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the show