Kate Winslet's ex-husband was behind the camera for the record-breaking Skyfall in 2012 and he admits he was "pilloried" by his friends to make the follow-up, Spectre, which hits cinemas later this year (15), but he won't be returning for another 007 adventure.

He says, "I do think this is probably it. I don't think I could go down that road again. You do have to put everything else on hold.... It really is more a lifestyle choice than a job."

Mendes filmed the new Bond movie in London, Mexico, Italy and Morocco with a cast and crew of over 1,000 people.

He adds, "You really do feel it. This is a bigger movie than Skyfall. It's shot in more places... We were in Mexico City and Tangiers and northern Sahara and Rome and the Alps and London. It's been an enormous undertaking."