Penguin books have commissioned "The Fast Show" star and writer Charlie Higson to write a series of novels telling the story of the young James Bond's adventures as an Eton schoolboy in the 1930's.

The first book, on which Higson has already started work and is due for publication next spring, follows a teenage Bond on his travels to a Scottish castle where a wealthy American is carrying out "some very disturbing experiments".

Describing Penguin's offer as "too good an opportunity to turn down", Higson said, "I've grown up with Bond, and while I've had to finally accept that I'll never play him in the films, writing about him is even more exciting."