Dougray Scott in Focus:  Articles and Interviews

Spin doctor Charlie says Dougray's a perfect 007

SULTAN of spin Charlie Whelan was dashed when Sean Connery called to say he couldn't make the golf.

But despair turned to delight when he was joined for a round at Gleneagles by the man who is tipped to be the new James Bond.

Whelan stalked the corridors of power at Westminster for five years as adviser and outspoken frontman for Chancellor Gordon Brown.

He has a knack of sorting the gospel from the gossip - so 18 holes with Dougray Scott have left him convinced the next 007 will be another Scot.

The pair teamed up for the new six-part STV show Whelan Around, to be screened from January 4, in which the chirpy Londoner chats to politicians and personalities over a round of golf at some of the best courses in Scotland.

As well as the Hollywood star, the 16-handicapper also hacked around with Stephen Hendry, David McLetchie, John Leslie, Craig Brown and Rhona Cameron.

Almost a third of Record readers polled recently voted for Ally McCoist to be drafted as the first Scots Bond since Connery, with Scott only third with 14 per cent of the votes - but Whelan thinks the Glenrothes-born star is odds on to replace Pierce Brosnan in the movie role.

He explains: "I asked Dougray about Bond and it's obvious there have been unofficial approaches made. It's clear to me that if he was asked, he'd take it.

"I suspect Bond producers think it's time for another Scottish 007 and Dougray fits the bill perfectly - he even does a brilliant Sean Connery impression.

"I know Record readers went for Ally McCoist, but if I was you lot, I'd get down to the bookies tomorrow and put money on Dougray.

"It would certainly be an interesting game of golf between him and Connery - we asked Sean if he was available. He was keen, but he called to say that, sadly, he had to be in Barbados."

Dougray also shares Connery's passion for golf.

Charlie, who won just two of his six matches, reveals: "Dougray was brought up playing around the courses in Fife and, at one hole, he drove the ball 300 yards. Let's just say he was a little better than me."

Londoner Charlie, 47, might seem a strange choice to host a Scottish TV show, but he is now resident in Grantown-on-Spey.

The Highlands were his refuge from the stresses of political life and when he resigned as Brown's adviser - after being blamed for leaking news of the Peter Mandelson home loan scandal - he moved north to indulge his passions for golf and fly fishing.

He says: "They call it Monarch Of The Glen country now, but I've been coming here for years. It's beautiful, wonderful.

"Anyone who has lived in London for as long as I have is glad to get out of it. I went back down the other day and someone had jemmied open my car.

"I still go down to the House of Commons for a few bevvies every now and again, but this is my full-time home.

"I love it in Scotland and the people have been very welcoming.

"I love the golf, but it was only when I stopped working for Gordon that I got the chance to take it up again.

"When you get to my age, you've got to hang up the football boots and pick up the golf shoes and there are seven great golf courses within a 20-minute drive of my house."

Charlie has just one regret about the new series, which came about after he propositioned TV bosses with the idea after a dinner they had attended and at which he was speaking - he was unable to persuade former boss Brown to ditch his famous red briefcase in favour of a golf bag.

He admits: "I wanted Gordon, but he said he can't play golf. Tennis is his game, but I told him there was no difference as he can't play that either.

"I refuse to believe a Fifer doesn't play golf. But I suspect the real reason is that Gordon would never give up a whole day just to play golf.

"And knowing Gordon, if he did play, he'd probably insist on playing the round wearing a suit and tie."

© Trinity Mirror Plc 2001 icScotland^TM