Anthony Horowitz, author of the teen spy series Alex Rider, is set to write the next James Bond adventure.
Mr Horowitz told the BBC that Ian Fleming’s hero had a profound influence on his life, adding: “This is a book I had to write.”
The author was given permission to write the novel by the Fleming estate.
Under the working title Project One, the novel will be set in the world of 1950s motor racing. Inspiration for the book came from treatment material for an unmade James Bond TV show called Murder on Wheels.
Mr Horowitz, who received an OBE in the New Year’s honour list, has experience in creating new adventures for established literary heroes.
He wrote the first authorised Sherlock Holmes novel - House of Silk- since the death of original creator Arthur Conan Doyle.
Authors who have previously written Bond novels include Sebastian Faulks, Jeffery Deaver and William Boyd.
