Currently appearing as 007 in Quantum of Solace, which by most accounts is exciting but about as much fun as a Schindler’s List theme park, Daniel Craig has taken time out to praise a new generation of Bond women. Women who will tell him to “f**k off” if he misbehaves. That’s right, “f**k off“, it’s Slovakian.

Daniel Craig isn’t exactly renowned for his song and dance demeanour. He’s a serious actor and questions about his teeny shorts in Casino Royale or why he wore a lifejacket to avoid drowning three years ago are bound to annoy him.

Plus if he decided to chase us over a building site we’d make it about as far as the Portakabin before going into cardiac arrest. We’re gonna just stick to the new movie instead.

In most Bond films the girls either end up dead or bedded, or bedded then dead, or dead then bedded (Roge had terrible eyesight). Either that or they have eight vaginas like that lady in Octopussy and run a lesbian circus. So how have times changed? We’ll tell you how times have changed – the girls swear now. Swear, dammit!

“I think Bond is as misogynistic as he always was. But the difference is that we try to cast great actresses playing strong women who, if he misbehaves, will tell him to f**k off” commented Craig recently.

They’re not going to say that in the film of course. No Slovakian swearwords, but plenty of Craig grimacing like he’s just seen his STI results and killing people with whatever object Jason Bourne didn’t use.

This is new Bond; he’s canned the silly jokes and wants women to hate him as much as he does. Not too hard really, being as banging the world’s most visible spy invariably means being killed – by a bullet, Dobermans, or, if they’re really unlucky, Castrol GTX.

Craig knows times have changed however, so even if these new Bond girls are going to die, they are going give him some stick first.

“Instead of it being a giggling girl in a bikini – and there’s nothing wrong with giggling girls in bikinis, sometimes it’s quite nice – there are women who challenge him.“

Quantum of Solace features two new Bond ladies who look quite similar (in that they’re both not blondes), Olga Kurylenko as Camille and Gemma Arterton as Agent Fields.

Disappointingly their character names give little ammunition for sexist jibes, unless Bond tries a “ploughing the fields” gag, which is unlikely as laughs are banned in the cinema this time around. The only laugh you’re going to hear is when you hand over twenty quid at the concessions counter and expect some change.

For all those who have just re-entered the earth’s atmosphere, Quantum of Solace opens nationwide on 31st October. That is a whole two weeks before the Americans get it. Don’t gloat however; they’ve got an upcoming presidential election to get us back with first.

James Bond may have a licence to kill – but it’s the Bond girls who provide the license to thrill.

Picking the right girls to appear alongside 007 is probably the second most important factor in the success of any Bond project – behind who is going to play the man himself, of course. They can make or break a film. They are as much a part of the Bond mythology as his gadgets, his cars or his vodka martinis.

So choosing the top 20 hottest Bond babes was never going to be easy. There are the odd exceptions, but Bond girls tend not to be ugly. Plus everyone has their own favourites. But hecklerspray has never been one to take the easy road – we love a challenge. But to make it simpler, we have just gone for the Bond girls who were the sexiest, rather than the ‘best’.

Trying to judge who was the best leads us to all kinds of questions such as ‘acting ability’ and ‘suitability to the role’, which, to be honest, we are far too shallow to judge. We wanted the girls who made you shake rather than stir.

Anyway, sit back, pour yourself a vodka martini and pay attention. You can disagree later.

20. Kristina Wayborn (Magda)
Octopussy (1983)

Forget Maud Adams, Magda was the real Octopussy.

19. Luciana Paluzzi (Fiona Volpe)
Thunderball (1965)

A fiery temptress and a personal favourite.

18. Tania Mallet (Tilly Masterson)
Goldfinger (1964)

Like her screen sister, did not last long, thanks to Oddjob. But hats off, she still made quite an impression.

17. Jane Seymour (Solitaire)
Live And Let Die (1973)

We’d all like to have played our cards right with Jane Seymour in her heyday.

16. Michelle Yeoh (Wai Lin)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Beautiful actress who also kicks serious ass.

15. Sophie Marceau (Elektra King)
The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Still sizzles despite having manky ears and starring in a terrible Bond film.

14. Halle Berry (Jinx)
Die Another Day (2002)

Let’s face it, she provides the only memorable moment in Die Another Day.

13. Caroline Munro (Naomi)
Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

A big favourite with Bond fans, despite the fact she gets killed off pretty quickly.

12. Izabella Scorupco  (Natalya Simonova)
Goldeneye (1995)

Unfortunately, spent most of the film being overshadowed by Famke Janssen while dressed in a rather unflattering sweater, but certainly deserves a mention.

11. Shirley Eaton (Jill Masterson)
Goldfinger (1964)

Eaton sparkles as the ill-fated Jill Masterson, and not just because she is painted gold from head to foot.

10. Akiko Wakabayashi (Aki)
You Only Live Twice (1967)

So beautiful you almost forget that Sean Connery has been ridiculously made up to look Japanese. Almost.

9. Diana Rigg (Tracy Di Vicenzo)
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1967)

She was admittedly sexier in The Avengers, but still sparkles as Mrs Bond.

8. Eva Green (Vesper Lynd)
Casino Royale (2006)

Would have been higher if it was not for her odd voice.

7. Barbara Bach (Anya Amasova)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Forget the dodgy accent and the fact she has been sullied by Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach brings the X-factor to her role as Agent Triple X.

6. Carole Bouquet (Melina Havelock)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Stunning actress who is always overlooked in the ‘Best Bond Girl’ lists.

5. Britt Ekland (Mary Goodnight)
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

Why on Earth did Bond choose Maud Adams over her? Great in a bikini, but a terrible actress.

4. Claudine Auger (Domino Derval)
Thunderball (1965)

Rubbish Bond girl but the former Miss France is certainly one of the prettiest.

3. Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore)
Goldfinger (1964)

Incredibly sexy and still the greatest character name in film history.

2. Ursula Andress (Honey Ryder)
Dr No (1962)

The original Bond girl and still arguably the best. The scene in which she comes out of the sea remains one of the sexiest moments in movie history. What a sweet ride that would be.

1. Famke Janssen
Goldeneye (1995)

Forget the risks, we’d all like to be between those thighs.