His three children were turned away at the door at London private members’ club Fifty because they were too young.

The young Faulkses, along with wife Veronica, were ushered to a nearby rest­aurant by apologetic staff for a complimentary dinner.

Faulks pleaded: “If anyone can twist the management’s arm to let them in for 10 minutes that would be great because they have kept this book secret for two years.”

The author, who was joined at the bash by model Tuuli Shipster, pictured, who graces the cover of the new tome, recalled his first experience of the secret agent.

“There was once a boy in a gloomy dormitory of a public school who was unhappy. One day there arrived a clever boy from India who said, ‘Don’t be sad, be James Bond’ and gave me From Russia With Love. From that day I realised there was always some light on the horizon,” he said.

Fellow guest, comedian and writer Charlie Higson, meanwhile, revealed that he is in talks about turning his book series about the young James Bond into a film.

He said: “There are discussions so that is exciting. The only problem is finding a young actor with the charisma to fill the role of a young Bond. 

“But a young Bond film might not be as popular as the real thing. Who would want to watch Bond at school when they can watch him blowing things up and driving fast cars?” Indeed.