It’s apt that our cover film should close a chapter, seeing as I am shutting the book on Total Film with this issue (my 153rd). After 10 years of captaining this fine ship, I’ll be stepping off the deck to hand the captain’s hat over to the most excellent Matt Maytum, with Jordan Farley as his chief mate. It’s been a glorious ride; Total Film has remained engaged, authentic, smart and fun in the years I’ve been aboard – both in team and output. There have been so many magnificent people, places and things that I could write a letter the length of this magazine, but if you know me at all you know I favour a brisk run time. So in the spirit of awards season, here are my gongs for my time at TF Towers:
Best on-set moment: Being on any Bond set is pure pinch-me, but the best (and hottest) was being the only journalist on the Skyfall set who watched the titular lodge burn to the ground. (Special mention to the Pinewood Bond archives, where I donned white gloves to handle THE golden gun, Jaws’ silver teeth and Connery’s annotated script.)