Callum Turner, a frontrunner for the role of James Bond in Amazon's upcoming 007 reboot, has been criticised for giving what one journalist described as 'possibly the worst interview ever'. The Masters of the Air star's chat with Esquire, written by Henry Wong, was praised by Tom Percival, Deputy TV editor, but Turner's responses were labelled 'duller-than-particularly-dull dishwater'.
Turner's Non-Answers on Bond and Marriage
When asked about the near-endless rumours that he will play Bond, Turner repeatedly dodged the question. 'I'm not going to comment on that either,' he said. 'I don't know anything, so I can't comment. There's nothing for me to comment on.' Pressed further, he added: 'There's nothing for me to comment on, and I think it's best just to not say anything.' A third attempt by Wong elicited: 'I just know I'm not going to comment on it… just because there's no point in commenting on it at this moment.'
Percival noted that Turner also refused to discuss his marriage to music icon Dua Lipa, saying he 'doesn't want to talk about it too much'. The journalist argued that the two topics people most want to know about—Turner's wedding and Bond—require at least one open answer, as this 'is doing nothing to disprove the grumbling that you're a boring choice for Bond'.
Media Training and the Decline of Celebrity Interviews
Percival attributed Turner's evasive responses to a broader crisis in celebrity journalism, citing increased social media scrutiny and the risk of alienating parasocial fandoms. He observed that stars now often give 'non-answers' with all the enthusiasm of 'a person tasked with wallpapering the spare room on a hot summer's day'. The piece concluded that celebrities have been 'media trained out of' being interesting, with every answer 'so sanitised you could eat your dinner off it'.
Percival lamented the death of the celebrity anecdote, writing: 'RIP Celebrity Interview (1859-2026): Shot in the back by the coward Callum Turner.'
