James Bond: Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes on the joys and challenges of filming Skyfall in London

“We got to shoot in parts of London we hadn’t seen before, and also use the iconography [of the city] - more so than you would be able to in most movies,” says Craig in a new promotional video for the upcoming James Bond movie.

“We got the chance to close down Whitehall, we used the London underground - we’ve closed down tube stations.”

Both Craig and director Sam Mendes make much of the fact that 007 is coming back to his home town for Bond 23.

“Sam and I wanted to make it British,” says Craig. “And it’s not a flag-waving thing… it’s just about basic Bond in Britain and it’s just very exciting to get out onto the streets and show London for what it is.”

Mendes says filming the capital was not easy: “London is not a particularly photogenic city, and to give it mood and atmosphere and a sense of threat or a sense of personality… that’s been a challenge.”

But Craig is convinced the audience will be pleased with the result: “We’ve made it look very beautiful - and very dark and sinister at times - but it’s Bond’s home.”

Watch the full video - which also features Judi Dench, aka 007's boss M - below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl218z68iC4