Legend has it that he sent Fleming a telegram stating "Dr.No? No! No! No!" and the part eventually went to Joseph Wiseman.

Bond: Sean Connery, Director: Terence Young, Bond Girl: Ursula Andress

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969): This is unofficially the most re-scheduled movie in history. It was supposed to be the first Bond film but Dr.No got made instead.

The producers thought of making it the second film but having learnt President John F. Kennedy loved the novel From Russia with Love, made that one into a movie first.

They tried making it after Goldfinger but Thunderball had to be made because of legal problems with the movie's co-write Kevin McClory.

OHMSS almost was the fifth film but because of production problems You Only Live Twice was made. Strange, because in the novels, it comes before You Only Live Twice.

Bond: George Lazenby, Director: Peter R. Hunt, Bond Girl: Diana Rigg (who, in fact, played Bond’s wife).

Photograph: Getty Images