Remember when Ian Botham was set to be âthe next James Bondâ? Of course you donât. There was, in 1985, as much chance of Roland the Rat becoming 007 as there was of the vegetable-headed cricketer stepping into the part, but, for a day or two, the tabloids pretended to take the notion seriously. Bothamâs publicist, convinced his client had crossover potential, had transported the Hero of Headingly to LA for meetings with the cigar-chompers. Menahem Golan, busy Israeli producer, apparently said Beefy âhad the looks, build and accent to be the next James Bondâ. Eon Productions, Bondâs parent firm since 1962, somehow resisted Bothamâs blonde mullet and settled for Timothy Dalton instead.