After reviewing over five hundred applications, producer Robert Valentine and writer–director Barnaby Edwards brought a carefully selected shortlist into the studio for in-person auditions – and, after an intense day at the mic, they’ve found both Young Bond and Wilder Lawless.

Producer Robert Valentine said: “Hello, agents. I am pleased to report that the Young Bond auditions have taken place. From over five hundred applications, director Barnaby Edwards and I whittled this number down to a shortlist of twelve potential Young Bonds, and four potential Wilder Lawlesses.

“In all honesty, it was a nerve-wracking day for us as well as for the actors, because finding the right Young Bond is the most important single decision of the entire project. All the actors who came in are extremely talented and highly experienced, but the challenge – as ever – was to find someone who is the perfect fit for the role, someone who really feels like Ian Fleming’s James Bond in his early years.

“The good news is that we’ve found not only our Wilder Lawless, but our 007 to-be. And he’s an even better Young Bond than I dared hope we’d find. Stay tuned for more.”

Barnaby Edwards added: “What an exhausting but thrilling day the in-person auditions were! The crème de la crème of voice actors came in for 20 minutes each to perform four scenes in front of the mic.

“Rob and the rest of the Big Finish team, together with two representatives of Ian Fleming Publications, were at the mixing desk while I was acting with and directing the candidates in the recording booth itself.

“We would compare notes after each audition to see who felt good to work with and who sounded best (not always the same thing!) The reason I wanted to act alongside our potential Bonds and Wilders was to see how they could adapt their audition clips to a live interaction with a fellow performer.

“Some people are wonderful on their own and terrible with other actors. Not so our sweet sixteen candidates, though. They were all brilliant, presenting us with exactly what Rob and I had wanted: a difficult decision. After a hugely long day, we selected our favourite Bond and Wilder. Stay tuned!”

What happens next?

With the chosen actors’ (secret) services secured, the next stage, when the time is right, is to introduce them to you.

Sign up at www.youngbondadventures.com to get your own agent codename and keep an eye on your inbox for future mission briefings as we move closer to the Young Bond: SilverFin launch.

Young Bond will be released digitally, followed by a special collector’s edition CD. Pre-orders of the CD will also unlock a digital copy which can be instantly downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.