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If you're aiming for a smooth marriage proposal, then you can't possibly go far wrong by channelling James Bond.

In a secret mission worthy of the 007 spy himself, Billy Connolly, had been keeping under wraps a meticulously-worked out plot to pop the question to his unsuspecting girlfriend during a film screening at their local cinema.

And, taking a leaf from his namesake’s book, he pulled off a lead actor role which stunned partner Charlotte Knowlden when she took her seat in the audience at Empire Theatre’s cinema on Sunday.

(Image: Facebook/Fiat 14 Productions)

There she watched a James Bond-theme film clip which ended with 23-year-old Billy, from Consett, in County Durham revealed as the star - and asking for her hand in marriage, reports the Newcastle Chronicle .

At that moment the auditorium doors opened at the back of the cinema and Billy walked down the aisle towards her with an engagement ring and a rose.

And for an anxious Billy the story - like all good films - had a happy ending.

A tearful “yes” was her answer to the all-important question and he said afterwards: “Everything went perfectly.”

(Image: Facebook/Fiat 14 Productions)

The film was created with the help of Flat 14 Productions who have since uploaded the video to their Facebook page .

Billy, who works as a support worker in special school and has been involved in amateur dramatics for years, wanted to find a unique way of proposing to his girlfriend of four-and-a-half years who had taken to dropping a few hints about marriage.

“Me being me, I was so laid back I just wanted to enjoy things first,” he said.

“But we bought our first house together in Crook in February, got a little dog and got on so well I thought ‘I’m going to spend the rest of my life with her’ so I thought about ways of doing it.”

(Image: Facebook/Fiat 14 Productions)

He came up with the unique idea of a James Bond-style video guaranteed to surprise his bride-to-be.

They met when Charlotte, who now works as a personal banker in Hexham, joined St Bede’s Sixth Form College on her move to the region from Essex after her sister married local man Simon.

“She came up for a two-week holiday, loved it so much and never went back,” said Billy.

It was Simon he asked for her hand in marriage - “he’s more like her dad” - and the moment is re-enacted in the film with Simon playing a Dr No-type character.

(Image: Facebook/Fiat 14 Productions)

The professional-looking short was peppered with teaser shots of the mystery 007 and puns on the Bond film titles.

The plan was to take Charlotte, also 23, to see it as part of an audience including friends, family, and pupils from the special school where Billy works.

She thought she was going to support a friend’s promotional film which had generated interest from a producer.

Billy told her the producer wanted feedback so the audience reaction was being recorded. But in reality the cameras’ focus was on Charlotte.

(Image: Facebook/Fiat 14 Productions)

But his plan nearly went pear-shaped. He said: “She got this flu going around and I thought she was going to cancel. I was ramming all these vitamins down her throat and saying ‘get yourself better’!

“I left early to get my suit ready and I thought I’d get a text saying she wasn’t coming.”

But Charlotte arrived to take her seat for the 4pm start. “She didn’t suspect a thing,” he said.

The truth dawned at the moment “Bond” finally spoke, when Dr No was revealed on screen and was asked for permission to marry Charlotte.

(Image: Facebook/Fiat 14 Productions)

“She started to cry,” said Billy. Bond’s on-screen exit to find his girl then coincided with his entrance into the auditorium.

“When I walked through the door I had a rose in my left hand and the ring in an open box in my right hand.

“I didn’t think I would be nervous because I’m used to the stage and cameras but when I was talking to family and friends earlier I was stumbling over my words.

“I pulled her up, gave her the rose then got down on one knee and said ‘will you marry me’?”

(Image: Facebook/Fiat 14 Productions)

Everyone chapped and cheered when Charlotte said yes and Billy added: “She said ‘I’ve got my ring!’ to everyone. Her mam and sister were crying and my mam was crying.

“She said ‘I can’t believe it’s happening’ - it was all she was talking about for the rest of the day. I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better.”

The likely plan is to marry in 2017 and Billy would like to make the big day August 19, the birthday of his late gran who died last year.

Charlotte, meanwhile, is keen to get cracking on arrangements. “She said she wants to go out shopping for dresses next weekend,” said Billy.