agents tell Radio 1

Shadow Queen

Mongoose
Bond not real, agents tell Radio 1

Two MI6 officers have given a rare interview to tell the public: James Bond isn't real.

The secret intelligence service duo were authorised to give an interview in which they described 007's licence to kill as "a complete myth".

But they revealed there is a real-life Q testing spy gadgets. And they insisted the spying business can be dangerous but "quite glamorous". The unnamed male and female officer spoke to Radio 1 DJ Colin Murray for Wednesday night's show.

It is believed to be the first time two serving officers have granted an interview.

The male officer replied: "No, it's a complete myth. It's good to be able to say that. The job of the service is to obtain intelligence to inform British government policy and help prevent, for example, terrorist attacks and in doing that we work under UK law.

"The work of the service is overseen both politically and legally so there's absolutely no room in that for killing people.

The female officer was then asked how an average month in the life of an MI6 officer compares to the world of James Bond. "There is certainly action, there is a lot of adventure and it's also quite glamorous - depending on what you mean by that exactly," she said.

"For me, glamour has to do with contrast: one situation you might find yourself in and then being transported into something else.

The male officer described it as "a job less ordinary". On the subject of M - the spy boss played in the Bond films by Dame Judi Dench - he claimed: "We don't have an M but we do have a C. He is C and that's what the chief of the service has been called since it was established in 1909.

"We also have a Q figure whose team is responsible for innovative technology and gimmicks and gadgets and things like that.
 
You're surprised? From John Simpson (BBC Current Affairs Editor at the time, don't know if he still is),
"You might assume that the real spies would find the antics of James Bond an embarrassment...Not so. Some years ago, I found myself in the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly but not accurately known as MI6, having lunch with it's boss...I was there as part of a charm offensive by SIS, the government was urging it to be less reclusive and it had responded by inviting a series of editors from the media to lunch and chat...in order to ease the atmosphere, I made some disparaging remarks about the James Bond Industry. 'In fact we find it rather useful in recruiting people.' said Sir Colin serenely from the head of the table. 'People equate us with the image, d'you see.'...it was true...there is an enduring and loony quality about the SIS myth...and yet overall SIS has benefited immensely from the myths that cluster around it. Whatever the reality might be, people around the world still believe in a service staffed by hawk- featured, silent, cunning patriots; and they voulnteer their services to it."

Bond isn't real, but they're quite happy to exploit the legend anyway. Not quite a complete myth, then.
 
Burger said:
High Sierra said:
anyone who thought James Bond was an accurate reflection of real life wants their head looking at.
They paid you to say that didn't they? :lol:
No, they probably did some "head looking at" for "his own good", and while at it had his brain washed, rinsed and dried. :wink: :P :lol:
Remember, the truth is... somewhere, and probably a three-edged sword too. Trust no one who doesn't buy Mongoose stuff. Deny most things. Don't dare to believe. And get yourself some rubber wallpaper for christmas, for practice.
Waaa-haaa-haaa-Eeek!
 
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