The finer points of the books and films that have installed 007 in the public imagination are illuminated in this "Bluffer's Guides" addition.

Mark Mason is a supporter of Coventry City FC. Despite this fact, he retains a strong interest in the game. His own skills on the football field can perhaps be most charitably described as ‘non-existent’. His one and only shot on goal, in a school match at the age of 12, was a mere matter of inches wide – of the corner flag. He has penned football articles for a variety of newspapers and magazines, as well as produced documentaries on the subject for the BBC. He had hoped that interviewing players would cause some of their magic to rub off on him. Anyone who sees the look of terror in his eyes whenever he has to kick the ball back to a group of six-year-olds in the park will know that it hasn’t.

Mark also has authored three comic novels, a series of non-fiction works, including The Importance of Being Trivial, and he is a regular contributor to numerous newspapers and magazines (but never about anything too complicated). He suspects that Bond wouldn’t have much time for him.