Miriam Margolyes takes on Young Bond!

Miriam Margolyes has joined the cast of Young Bond: SilverFin, a full-cast audio adaptation of Charlie Higson’s novel, due to be released on 29 October 2026 from Big Finish Productions and Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

The BAFTA-winning actress, known for Blackadder, Doctor Who: The Star Beast and much more, joins the already announced Isaac Rouse (as James Bond), Charlotte McBurney (as Wilder Lawless) and Charlie Higson (as Mr Merriot).

Margolyes will play Cleek MacSawney, a malicious servant of Lord Hellebore who comes into conflict with the young James Bond.

Margolyes said: “Cleek is a violent, probably insane semi-criminal who works for Lord Hellebore on his estate in Scotland. You wouldn’t want to meet her on a dark night, that’s for sure. I do enjoy playing nasty people!”

Two further cast members are revealed today: Harry Marcus (Poldark) voices Bond’s young friend Red Kelly, and Christopher Nathan (The Walking Dead: World Beyond) is Eton College bully George Hellebore.

Writer and director Barnaby Edwards said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have Miriam in my life for two decades now. She’s an extraordinary human being and a phenomenal actress. When I began adapting SilverFin, I was determined to get more female characters into it. Thankfully, IFPL and Charlie Higson gave their blessing to gender-swapping the role of Cleek.

“Miriam’s recording days were huge fun, with everyone upping the ante to match her brilliance. Cleek is a larger-than-life character, but she’s got to be believable. Miriam once said, when questioned about her acting style: ‘I build big, but I build true.’ And that’s exactly what she did for SilverFin. Cleek is fun but also terrifying. The world of Bond has been crying out for Miriam, so it’s wonderful that we finally have her in the family.”

Producer Robert Valentine added: “Casting Miriam Margolyes as the monstrous henchperson Cleek MacSawney was Barnaby’s masterstroke. She’s a phenomenal actor, and absolutely relishes in making MacSawney a vile, revolting, pig-killing ogress. It was a delight watching her work from the back of the studio!”

And, producer Lizzie Worsdell said: “I was thrilled when I heard that Barnaby and Rob had cast Miriam. What an icon. She brings exactly the right amount of evil and sinisterness that the role needed. There was never a dull moment when she was around, but as soon as she was in the studio, you were reminded very quickly why she’s such an extraordinary talent. It was a privilege to watch.”

SilverFin is comprised of 16 half-hour episodes, making up approximately eight hours of full-cast audio drama. It will be released in October 2026 as two box sets, available from www.bigfinish.com and www.ianflemingshop.com. Each box set can now be pre-ordered for just £24.99 (download to own) or £35.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD).

Additionally, listeners can pre-order the two volumes together as a bundle, available in a number of premium tiers with strictly limited, exclusive collectable packages:

• Platinum (limited to just 300 copies worldwide): SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as collector’s edition CDs and digital downloads to own, plus an exclusive ‘Young Bond Intelligence Report’ magazine and commemorative collectables (notebook, mug, fridge magnet, and behind-the-scenes postcards), for £119.
  
  
• Gold (limited to just 300 copies worldwide): SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as collector’s edition CDs and digital downloads to own, plus commemorative collectables (notebook, mug, fridge magnet, and behind-the-scenes postcards), for £95.
  
  
• Silver: SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as collector’s edition CDs and digital downloads to own, for £68.
  
  
• Bronze: SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as digital downloads to own, for £48.

Copies of the SilverFin novel by Charlie Higson can also be purchased from the Big Finish website, for £6.99. And, the novel is available in a bundle with both volumes of the SilverFin audio drama, for £54 (with the audio drama as digital downloads to own) or £68 (with the audio drama on CD).

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