The music of James Bond with the BBC Philharmonic, Radio 5 live and Radio 2

I’m sure there’s a market for Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo action figures. I can’t be the only one who enjoyed seeing their Bond and Blofeld make over in the Radio Times. It’s whet my appetite and now I’d like to have a go myself - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid maybe, Batman and Robin?

It was all in aid of a couple of special programmes to mark 50 years of James Bond at the cinema. Listeners to 5 live and Radio 2 have been voting in a poll to find the UK’s favourite Bond theme.

All will be revealed in the Kermode and Mayo Film Review programme on 14 September at 2pm. The winner will be played by the BBC Philharmonic in a show exploring why music is such a crucial ingredient in that franchise. Later on the same day Friday Night Is Music Night on Radio 2 will feature a “Bond and Beyond” concert looking at both Bond and other iconic music from the special agent genre.

Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night is the world’s longest running live music programme but it’s the first time listeners will be able to watch the show, as it’s broadcast live, in its 60 year history. And it’s a sign of the times that our programmes will be more than just radio shows - we’re creating a truly digital event.

Audiences can watch live on the BBC Red Button, the BBC Big Screens, as well as online at both the 5 live and Radio 2 websites. We’re also after lots of contributions to the shows via text and Twitter, plus there’s the opportunity to join other Bond fans in our online web chats. There’s also a highlights show available on BBC Red Button in the following week too.

The planning meetings for such collaborative projects can be unintentionally funny. This will be the third such concert I’ve done with the General Manager of the BBC Phil, Richard Wigley, so I’m getting used to how an orchestra operates but nevertheless 15 people in a room all trying to decide who’d be best placed to sing Thunderball by humming it loudly in different keys was a bit of moment. Such joint projects are about 20% creativity and 80% stubbornness. Richard Wigley and his musicians are doing a whole series of joint projects across the BBC radio networks as part of the BBC Philharmonic Presents season. He’s made of steely stuff.

As well as giving you the chance to have a good look at how another part of the BBC works these collaborations often throw up unexpected moments of happiness. We realised during the first Radio 5 live show last year the BBC Phil had never had their playing commented on live by the audience before . Luckily it was all good and as the texts and emails were read out by Simon the players were genuinely chuffed.

There was one listener unable to mop the kitchen floor because they were overcome with tears at the oboe solo, another who had to pull over on the motorway as the theme from the Magnificent Seven reminded him of his first cinema visit with his father.

Hopefully this Friday’s programmes will be just as special for everyone involved and I’m hoping some of the audience coming to the live shows on Friday will dress up for the occasion. I’ll be there as Miss Moneypenny. I considered the Ursula Andress approach but the weather’s changed recently. As to whether Simon and Mark will be doing the whole thing as Bond and Blofeld, you’ll have to watch to find out.

Rhian Roberts is head of development, BBC Radio 5 Live

• BBC Radio 5 live’s Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review live from 2-4pm on 14th September. You can watch it live on the Red Button, it will also be streamed on the BBC Radio 5 live website.
• BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night live from 8-10pm on 14th September. You can watch it live on the Red Button, it will also be streamed on the BBC Radio 2 website.
• A highlights show will also be available on the Red Button the following week.
• You can watch how Simon and Mark were transformed into Bond and Blofeld for the Radio Times here.