James Bond has been forbidden from having a dog for over 70 years, author Charlie Higson has revealed. Speaking on the My Mate Bought a Toaster podcast, Higson said he tried to give Bond a dog in his Young Bond series but was blocked by Ian Fleming's estate.
Author’s attempt to give Bond a dog
Higson, known for his role in The Fast Show, explained: 'In my first book, I gave Bond a dog. I thought to myself, “He’s on an adventure, he should have a dog.”' However, the estate said, 'No, Ian hated dogs,' so the dog was cut.
Higson has written five Young Bond books, starting with SilverFin in 2005. The series follows a teenage Bond at Eton College and was later continued by Steve Cole.
Higson’s adult Bond novel
In 2023, Higson published On His Majesty’s Secret Service, an adult Bond adventure commissioned for King Charles III's coronation. He described the tight deadline: 'Getting it written in such a short space of time was as tense and heart-pounding as any Bond mission.' The story involves Bond foiling a plot to disrupt the coronation.
Daniel Craig’s dog moment
Daniel Craig, who played Bond in five films, appeared on Saturday Night Live in 2020 with a fluffy dog, seemingly unaware of the no-dogs rule. Craig later left the role after No Time to Die (2021).
Amazon MGM now controls the film franchise, and fans await the next Bond casting. Whether the new Bond will break the no-dogs rule remains unknown.
