James Bond: Ranking Every Blofeld From Worst To Best

Once we get past the inevitable confusion caused by Bond and Blofeld apparently not recognising each other (despite having met in the previous film), Telly Savalas' iteration of the character quickly cements itself as one to remember.

The American Savalas is at once highly distinct from Donald Pleasence's version of the nefarious SPECTRE head in light of his obvious physical presence. While Pleasence didn't look like he'd last more than a few seconds in a bout against Bond, On Her Majesty's Secret Service gives us a Blofeld who's more than a match for 007.

He proves this, in fact, in a climactic bobsled chase which finds the villain raining down thunderous blows on George Lazenby - and since Lazenby himself remained the most bruising and intimidating Bond until Daniel Craig decades later, this is saying something.

Blofeld's scheme, too, deserves plaudits for befitting his dastardly organisation's mastermind reputation. Holding the world to ransom not via the threat of nuclear destruction or deadly satellite lasers, but rather by putting Earth's livestock at risk of extinction is a stroke of fiendish brilliance.

After years of buildup, a figure like Ernst Stavo Blofeld needed to be not only the epitome of megalomania but also a man who could throw a punch and look convincing doing it. OHMSS understood this - so did Telly Savalas and director Peter Hunt.