PEOPLE at a village near the home of Daniel Craig’s late father have been reflecting on the actor’s 15-year stint as James Bond.

With Craig’s swansong as the famous 007 ¬– No Time To Die – hitting cinema screens on Thursday, September 30, the Advertizer spoke to people in Whittington, near Hindford.

His father Tim, who died in August of 2020, was a regular at The Jack Mytton Inn pub in Hindford.

Although the pub is no longer open, Craig himself was said to have frequented it during visits to his father.

Visitors to a nearby pub in Whittington shared their views on Craig’s time as Bond, and said it is nice to know the iconic series has ties to their local area.

Mary Williams of the White Lion pub said: “It’s great to know Daniel has links with the area.

“I’m a fan of the films and he’s done a great job when he’s been in them over the years.”

Margaret Kynaston, who was also at the pub added: “I think he has been the best James Bond. I never rated Sean Connery as Bond, nor George Lazenby or Roger Moore. I think Pierce Brosnan was a close second.”

Alastair Taylor added that he thinks Craig is a brilliant actor.

“I wasn’t aware his father used to live in the area,” he said. “I have watched a few of the Bond films in recent years.

“I think he’s a brilliant actor. It would have been nice if some of the filming around here.”

The 53-year-old film star, who was born in Chester in 1968, made his debut as Bond in the 2006 film Casino Royale and has since portrayed 007 in a further four instalments of the popular franchise.

He also became the first actor to take on the role who had been born after the film series began.

His time in the role has culminated in several awards and nominations for his on-screen displays.

After announcing this will be his final Bond film, attention now turns to who will become the next 007 – and people remain unsure of who that may be.

Ian Garland, who manages projection at Kinokulture in Oswestry, said the next appointment as the iconic character will depend on which direction the films will be looking to take next.

He said: “I’ve absolutely loved Craig’s Bond films – Spectre and Skyfall in particular we really enjoyed screening here.

“I grew up on Connery’s films, and I think it’s between him and Craig for the best ones. But I did also like Lazenby and Moore was fun.

“I haven’t really considered anyone I’d like to see as the next Bond. I’ll just wait to see which names are thrown into the hat.

“It depends on where they want to go with it next, whether they want to go more serious or go back to a more light-hearted, jokey theme.

“It’s got to be somebody who sits with what they want to do with it next.”

Bookies currently have big names including Tom Hardy, James Norton and Idris Elba among the favourites to take over from Craig.

No Time To Die will be released in the UK on Thursday, September 30, with some cinemas opting to screen the film one minute after midnight.