Christmas Day premiere for Casino Royale
6th December, 2007
New TV channel Sky Movies HD2 has announced it will be screening 007 poker flick Casino Royale, on Christmas Day for the very first time.
The James Bond blockbuster, starring British actor Daniel Craig, proved a massive hit with audiences when it was released last year.
And on Christmas Day gambling enthusiasts and film buffs alike will be able to enjoy the action from the comfort of their own living room.
The screening will mark the first time that the movie has been shown on UK television and will follow another British classic – the Queen's Speech.
Poker fans who tune in to the film are also likely to be impressed with the clarity of the picture – with the channel broadcasting it in high definition for the first time.
Sky Movies boss Ian Lewis told the Mirror: "We are excited to be able to broadcast two of the most popular Christmas Day TV highlights in a way the British public has never seen before."
One of the highlights of the film focuses around a tense game of poker where Bond must defeat his enemy, Le Chiffre, in a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale in Montenegro.
The scene sees Le Chiffre about to win with a full house of aces and sixes but Bond finally beats him off with a straight flush – winning the spy $120 million (£59,000).
