The name’s Bond … the well-known bird lover

FAST Show star and writer Charlie Higson has landed a cameo role in a new TV drama as James Bond – but not that one.

He will appear in an adaptation of an Agatha Christie Miss Marple mystery, A Caribbean Mystery, playing an American ornithologist called Bond.

Higson – a huge 007 fan who has written several books about the life of the young secret agent – has also scripted the forthcoming ITV Marple drama.

The story is the first of three new films which will star Julia McKenzie as the spinster sleuth.

Christie’s Bond character first appeared in her story The Rajah’s Emerald, many years before Ian Fleming wrote his books, and he has been transplanted into this story.

Fleming is thought to have named his hero after another real-life ornithologist, who was a US expert on Caribbean birds.

Higson said of his involvement with the drama: “I have managed to put my twin obsessions of James Bond and zombies into the Miss Marple script.

“But before any Agatha Christie fans jump down my throat – the script is very faithful to the book – A Caribbean Mystery. Just with added zombies and James Bond.”

The film is to be screened next year.