For your ears only: How music brought the new James Bond game to life
The BBC went behind the scenes as the score for the blockbuster James Bond video game was recorded.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
""It's mostly action music, so if you hate us by the end of it that's totally understandable.""
— Alexis Smith , Celebrity
""Take that to the bank.""
— Joe Henson , Celebrity
""We were very lucky, because trying to write a new theme or a pastiche is never going to be as cool.""
— Joe Henson , Celebrity
""The main James Bond theme is one of those things that everybody knows.""
— Alexis Smith , Celebrity
""It was a huge thrill but also nerve-wracking, because it's quite a responsibility.""
— Joe Henson , Celebrity
"It’s mostly action music, so if you hate us by the end of it that’s totally understandable."
— Alexis Smith , Celebrity
"We were very lucky because trying to write a new theme or a pastiche is never going to be as cool."
— Joe Henson , Celebrity
"The main James Bond theme is one of those things that everybody knows."
— Alexis Smith , Celebrity
"The existing music brought pressure because the new score still had to sit alongside decades of recognised Bond compositions."
— Alexis Smith , Celebrity
Key People
Composer who has worked on the score for the new James Bond video game.
Barbara Broccoli is a British film producer and one of the producers of the James Bond franchise.
Renowned film director known for movies like Dune.
Henderson is a composer who collaborated with Alexis Smith on the score for 007 First Light.
Co-writer of the score for the new James Bond video game and son of actress Una Stubbs.
A conductor testing the limits of the Chamber Orchestra of London.
Producer and co-owner of the James Bond franchise.
Wilson is a producer and one of the creative supervisors for the James Bond films.
Gibson voices the character of Bond in the game 007 First Light.
Una Stubbs was an actress known for her work in television and film.
Tags
All Coverage
The BBC went behind the scenes as the score for the blockbuster James Bond video game was recorded.
An in-depth look at the recording process of the score for the new James Bond video game, 007 First Light, featuring insights from composers Alexis Smith and Joe Henson.
A detailed account of the recording session at Abbey Road Studios for the 007 First Light video game, highlighting the collaboration between composers and the London Chamber Orchestra.
An exploration of how composers Alexis Smith and Joe Henson, known as The Flight, crafted an interactive score for the 007 First Light video game, adapting the classic Bond sound to a dynamic gaming experience.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
'It's very Bond': Fashion experts on the England squad's off-pitch look
What experts make of the men's team's official off-duty fashion as they prepare for their first World Cup match.
June 17, 2026 at 05:52 AMWatch: The Darkness rock new He‑Man theme
The band, from Lowestoft, will feature in the soundtrack alongside Queen guitarist Brian May.
June 16, 2026 at 03:54 PMDrones create the first-ever Fifa scoreboard in Seattle sky
BBC reporter Max Matza is in Seattle, Washington, where 400 drones lit up the night sky on Monday to display the score of the Egypt v Belgium match.
June 16, 2026 at 04:20 PMMichael Fassbender says it is becoming harder to know what to trust online
Stars of spy thriller show The Agency discuss espionage, AI and the personal cost of living a double life.
June 20, 2026 at 01:35 AMBackstage at Gorillaz' epic, one-off stadium show: 'The vibe is ridiculous'
Damon Albarn, De La Soul and Moonchild Sannelly talk backstage as Gorillaz play their biggest show.
June 21, 2026 at 01:14 AMGTA 6 - all you need to know about Rockstar's blockbuster game
Rockstar's sixth game in the franchise is set to be the biggest game release of the year.
June 19, 2026 at 11:21 AM