Bond – James Bond, that is – is almost upon us. The new film, Quantum of Solace, opens in cinemas in the UK next Friday. In one of its midweek appearances reserved for special occasions, The South Bank Show has garnered exclusive footage from the new movie ahead of its launch, and collected numerous big names to reflect, alongside stalwart Melvyn Bragg, on a franchise that has lasted 45 years. Daniel Craig, present 007 incumbent, Sean Connery, Judi Dench (who plays the character M) and a host of people from the new film including Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, villain Mathieu Amalric, director Marc Forster and composer David Arnold all feature.