Casino Royale filming to take place at Eton college cricket pavilion

It is nearly 70 years since James Bond was supposed to have been expelled from Eton, but he will soon be making a dramatic return to his alma mater - reports the Independent.

Next month, current Bond star Daniel Craig will be shooting several scenes at the college as part of Bond's next film outing, Casino Royale.

Filming will take place at the school's cricket pavilion though, as I understand it, the scenes will not actually have anything to do with Bond padding up.

Instead it will apparently be dressed up with palm trees and made to look like an exotic location.

Usually, anyone given the boot from the 550-year-old college is not welcome on school grounds again, but on this occasion the headmaster was understandably happy to make an exception. "Yes, you are right. Bond got into a bit of bother with a boy's maid during his time at Eton, but he is forgiven and we are very much looking forward to seeing him back here," jokes the school bursar when I call.

"However, I'm afraid we aren't supposed to say what Bond is up to."

Unfortunately, a spokesman for the film is similarly tight-lipped about the shoot, deeming it a "closed set".

As for Eton, it has been no stranger to film crews over the years. In the past it has played host to a number of high-profile movies including Shakespeare in Love and Chariots of Fire.

MI6 Note: As has been reported previously, the cricket match will be used in the pre-titles sequence.

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