We’re still no closer to knowing who the British actor cast as Bond is… (Picture: Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images)
It’s not Aaron Taylor Johnson, so who could it be? Our readers have some theories on the candidate destined to be the new James Bond.
Meanwhile, readers discuss Donald Trump’s hypocrisy, Harry and Meghan’s apparent relegation, why they won’t be moving to cash and slug killing methods.
And good thing too, because pesky slugs have taken up lodging in one poor reader’s bathroom sink, and would you paint over Banksy’s new mural?
Share what you think about these topics and more in the comments.
Bradley Walsh?
He might be the wrong age, Doreen (Picture: REX)
Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has poured more cold water on rumours he will be the next 007, claiming a James Bond role is not part of his ‘show and tell’ (Metro, Thu).
OK, so what about Bradley Walsh as the new Bond? After all, he is always on the small screen – so he might as well take over the big screen, too. Doreen, Glasgow
Peter (MetroTalk, Wed) is probably right when he says the new James Bond actor should be in ‘their early-to-mid 30s’. However, the producers usually opt for someone a bit older, though not as old as candidate Idris Elba, 51, would be.
James Bond actors usually sign for a three-film contract, after which they are free to name their price.
It wouldn’t do for a popular and suitable actor to be calling the shots after ten years in the role – but if he is ready to be pensioned off, the producers have the perfect excuse to find someone newer and cheaper. Clive Morris, Epsom
Harry and Meghan can’t seem to catch a break
Donald Trump says he will review Prince Harry’s US visa application if re-elected after the revelations made in his book Spare (Picture: Twitter / Nigel Farage)
The hypocrisy of Donald Trump when being interviewed by Nigel Farage on GB News (Metro, Wed) is hilarious.
Trump said Prince Harry, who confessed to taking cocaine and marijuana in his book Spare, could face consequences if he lied about it on his US visa application. That could preclude him from gaining a visa to live in the US.
Trump himself has repeatedly lied and is constantly in court and yet somehow he seems to get away with it. Tarin, Tottenham
Maybe their presence would take some stress off King Charles? (Picture: Getty Images)
Donald Trump says he will review Prince Harry’s US visa application if re-elected. Fine – just please don’t send him back here, Mr Trump. Lizzie, Liverpool
It saddened me to read about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being relegated to a smaller entry on the Royal Family’s official website (Metro, Wed).
I hope that one day they will step forward again as working members of the Royal Family. This could take some of the pressure off the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales, with respect to their royal duties.
Prince Harry and Meghan are still much loved by many in the UK, and perhaps it’s time for the burying of hatchets and for bridges to be built. Al, Charlton
Please help this man with his bathroom sink slugs
Talking of slugs (MetroTalk, Thu), I get small versions appearing in my upstairs bathroom sink unit. How on earth is that happening? Where are they coming from and how do I stop it, as it’s horrible? John Lewis, Liverpool
Have you tried it as a slug killer in your garden? (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Joanna (MetroTalk, Tue) suggests a ‘humane’ alternative of leaving beer out for slugs, so they get drunk, fall into it and drown.
I once read about this as an alternative to slug pellets. The idea is that it poisons them quickly as they do not have livers.
Birds can eat the dead slugs because they have livers that eliminate the alcohol in the dead slugs.
I have never tried it, only read about it. GJ Tinker, London
‘I find a penny, I pick it up’
It all adds up eventually… (Credits: Getty Images)
In response to Maria (MetroTalk, Mon), the reason they made 1p & 2p coins last October was partly to help the likes of me.
I pick up every coin I pass and keep in a separate pocket. The coins get put in a box and every six months I empty it. Cancer charities get about £50 and the other six months of coins goes to stroke charities.
That’s £100 every year to my favourite charities simply from ‘annoying money that everyone tosses aside’, as Maria describes it. Jo Gailey, London
How will we protect ourselves if World War 3 breaks out?
The world is at its most dangerous point since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
There’s the Russian-Ukraine war, China has its eyes fixed on Taiwan, Iran – which is financing terrorism throughout the Middle East – is determined to acquire nuclear weapons, while North Korea wants to attack South Korea and is supplying weapons to Russia. The Hamas-Israel war may yet prove to be a trigger point for a larger conflict.
The UK Armed Forces total only 142,560. We need to pump money into defence but where will this come from?
It’s obvious, really: climate change expenditure costs us billions a year – and is increasing. Clark Cross, Linlithgow
Are different NHS trusts paying different prices?
Think of how much money a unified system would save (Credits: Getty Images)
Thanks to Rob Slater (MetroTalk, Tue) for his letter on how the fragmentation within the NHS works against a universal IT system for sharing records and test results etc.
I recently read an article detailing the difference in prices paid by individual health trusts for the same items, with some paying twice as much.
Surely the one thing that could be unified is a central purchasing body in the NHS to procure items – pharmaceuticals and equipment – for the individual trusts.
The sheer volumes used nationwide would give them immense bargaining power and allow them to almost dictate prices in the way major supermarkets do with their suppliers. It would certainly allow them to obtain supplies at better rates. Savings could then be reinvested into NHS services. Phil, West Midlands
Why we are not ready to cash out just yet
Our readers share their thoughts and fears on a country without cash (Credits: Getty Images)
I firmly agree with Abby B’s views (MetroTalk, Tue) about a cashless society. In addition to the points made, freedom of choice is being eroded. There are those of us who do not want to use this technology but are continually pressured to do so.
As Addy says, EM Forster’s short story, The Machine Stops, from 1909 predicted we would become reliant on technology and live hermit-like existences. Everyone should read it – it is frighteningly prophetic. Sandra Brown, Horden
To Joe in London (MetroTalk, Thu), while your points are mostly valid,
you seem to have skipped over the devastating effect that a cashless society will have.
Firstly, all dependent business will basically disappear as chains get transaction fees far smaller than an independent business would get, meaning they would never be able to compete on price. This gap will get even bigger.
Secondly, all bank branches will disappear because with no cash to warrant them being there, they will close as everyone will be forced to
do everything online.
Also, all cash couriers and cash courier companies will cease to exist, and this will mean millions of people out of work. And that’s without touching on all the other reasons, including a Big Brother state where everything is tracked – all this because Joe has a germ phobia about touching money. Just to say, my cash is never near my groin, ever! I find your blinkered view insulting. Sebastien, Romford
I would support a cashless society if our transactions were private – but they’re not! Steve Parkin, Leeds
Four high-street institutions have had national IT problems in the past week. Coincidence or cyber attacks? John Nightingale, South Redbridge
Prohibition at the races, art or vandalism and teens on motorbikes
Do you consider what Banksy does vandalism? (Picture: w8media)
Mary (MetroTalk, Wed) says the Cheltenham Festival is ‘doing its best but cannot do anything about the obnoxious behaviour of some of the idiots who don’t care about the actual racing and just go to bet and get drunk’.
The solution is glaringly obvious: stop selling alcohol and prohibit racegoers from bringing in their own alcohol. It really is that simple!
Oh, I forgot – the racecourse undoubtedly makes a fortune from alcohol sales. Roland, Surbiton
Further to your article about Banksy’s tree mural being vandalised with white paint (Metro, Thu). Just to clarify, if someone splashes green paint on a white wall it’s ‘art’, but if someone splashes white paint on a green-splashed wall, it’s vandalism! If I owned that wall, I’d report the green paint and repaint my wall white! Ryan, Southend
The sudden good weather has precipitated the annual arrival of youths on motorbikes, most with L plates on the back. As usual, they speed around generating unwelcome noise and pollution as well as a fear of death or injury for the rest of us.
Does anybody within the government keep an eye upon these adolescents? Is there anyone to adopt a parental role?
Antony Porter, London
MORE : Forget Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emmerdale’s Paddy is in the running for James Bond
MORE : How Russia’s own cash could be used against Putin to fund weapons for Ukraine
MORE : Trump warns there would be a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses the election