No time to fly, Mr Bond? 007 star Daniel Craig will miss the Baftas as he prepares for Broadway

The Baftas are set to celebrate the world of James Bond tomorrow night – but 007 himself won’t actually be there to see it.

Daniel Craig will give the awards show a miss as he is preparing for a stint on Broadway later this month, sources said. 

The Bafta ceremony in London will open with a performance by Goldfinger singer Dame Shirley Bassey, 85, celebrating 60 years of Britain’s most successful film franchise.

Daniel Craig will give the awards show a miss as he is preparing for a stint on Broadway later this month, sources said.

But Craig, 54, is set to stay in New York, where he lives with wife Rachel Weisz, 52, prior to a run as Macbeth beginning on March 29.

As a result, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson will be left to represent the franchise without their leading man.

The decision comes despite the role as the MI6 spy making Craig a reported £62million over the course of five films.

After starring in four films as the fictional spy, the actor famously said he would rather ‘slash my wrists’ than play Ian Fleming’s spy again.

He was tempted back to the role for one last time in No Time To Die, which finally reached cinemas last year after a series of pandemic-related delays.

Since the first Bond film Dr No was released in 1962, the series has enjoyed huge critical and commercial success, including 32 Bafta nominations and 4 wins to date.

This year’s ceremony will also be missing Bafta president Prince William, who has recorded a message to be played in his absence.

Craig was tempted back to the role for one last time in No Time To Die, which finally reached cinemas last year after a series of pandemic-related delays.

The show will be held at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Australian actress Rebel Wilson and broadcast on BBC One from 7pm.

Sci-fi epic Dune leads the way with 11 nominations, followed by The Power of the Dog with eight. No Time To Die is up for five awards, including best British film.