Radiohead’s Bond theme for Spectre would have been glorious - listen

The theme apparently 'didn't work out'

Thom Yorke stunned fans on Christmas Day by revealing a new Radiohead track that was also a rejected theme for Spectre.

The producers’ eventual decision to go with Sam Smith’s divisive ballad 'Writing’s on the Wall' was presumably down to marketing, as Radiohead’s theme is absolutely beautiful.

It has the moody strings you would expect of a Bond song but they’re a lot more subtle, punctuated by staccato drums before sliding into a catchy chorus which Yorke’s vocals float over.

“Last year we were asked to write a tune for Bond movie Spectre. Yes we were ………..” Yorke wrote on Twitter (sic).

"It didn't work out, but became something of our own, which we love very much. As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it. Merry Christmas. May the force be with you."

The theme will only ever be an internet oddity now, but here’s hoping whoever ends up directing Bond 25 considers enlisting the help of one of Britain’s best musical exports.

Many bands used Christmas Day as an opportunity to share new music, with Future Islands’ posting a cover of Wham!’s 'Last Christmas' and LCD Soundsystem offering up an anti-festive song called ‘Christmas Will Break Your Heart’.