James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson have said they are “still looking” for the next 007, joking that, unfortunately, the “ideal candidate” Duke of Cambridge is not available for the role.
The filmmaking siblings received their CBEs from William at Buckingham Palace on Friday.
Ms. Broccoli has produced the last nine Bond films with her brother, including Casino Royale, Skyfall and most recently No Time to Die.
She added that “unfortunately, the person we just met is not available” for a top position in the franchise.
Ms. Broccoli said: “Unfortunately, he is busy, but he would be an ideal candidate, fits the bill.
“But it is not available, unfortunately. So we’re still looking.”
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Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson receive MBEs from the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace (Dominic Lipinski/Pennsylvania)
Asked if the couple had a favorite Bond movie, Wilson said: “We love all of them. We always find something wonderful in every movie, especially, you know, different actors who have done great films.
“I think deep down we believe that at least one of their films is outstanding, if not several.”
The duo own Eon Productions, a family business founded by their father, Albert “Cubbi” Broccoli, and Ms. Broccoli described the pair’s work together as “a good team, a brother and sister team.”
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She added, “Everything is very smooth when we work together. It’s only at the dinner table that we disagree!”
Ms Broccoli called the British film industry ‘the greatest in the world’ and, reflecting on her four-decade career, said: ‘I have enjoyed working in this industry.
“It’s just an incredible job and you know you meet the most extraordinary people and making these films is such a privilege.”
Also among those honored at the Palace on Friday was Figen Murray, the mother of Martin Hett, who died in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
Speaking about the motives behind her anti-terrorism campaign, she said: “I could go under, but that would be the wrong answer.”
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Figen Murray said her son, bombing victim Martin Hett, would be ‘very excited’ about her Order of the British Empire (DOminic Lipinski/PA)
She added: “I also felt that as a person directly affected by terrorism, I was able, through my personal resilience, to actually break the cycle of hatred by forgiving. So it was very important for me to do that.”
Asked what the OBE meant for her and her family, she told her husband, “I think Martin would be very excited, wouldn’t he?”
Meanwhile, in Public Health and Science, Dr. June Rein, Executive Director of the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency, was honored for her health services and response to Covid-19.
She called it a “fantastic honor” and said the recognition “goes to everyone who worked during Covid.”
“Our team is incredibly special, completely dedicated, and these years of hard work have allowed us to hit the weapons in time… it’s all worth every minute.”
She added: “I think we have shown that an integrated system that brings people together is the way to go, and we have been wonderfully blessed with an ecosystem in this land of superior science, but also with the National Health Service that also brings people together.
“So I think what we’ve learned will lead us to a real asset for the United Kingdom for developers who want to use new drugs and new vaccines to do it here first.”
