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Roger Moore Denies Racism Over Bond Comments

Roger Moore Denies Racism Over Bond Comments

James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore has been forced to deny accusations of racism because he said he wanted the next bond to be "English English".

Some have interpreted his comments as suggesting that Sir Roger believes that Idris Elba, who has been widely touted as a candidate for the role, should not play the famous spy.

The 87-year-old veteran actor made his comments in the French magazine Paris Match.

Sir Roger said that the accusation of racism may have resulted from the true meaning of his comments being "lost in translation".

Soon after his comments started appearing in UK newspapers, including the Daily Mail, Sir Roger tweeted: "An interview I gave to Paris Match implies I said something racist about Idris Elba. That is simply untrue. #Lost in translation."

The Daily Mail reported that Sir Roger told Paris Match: "A few years ago, I said that [black actor] Cuba Gooding Jnr would make an excellent Bond, but it was a joke!

"Although James may have been played by a Scot, a Welshman and an Irishman, I think he should be English-English.

"Nevertheless, it's an interesting idea, but unrealistic."

The first man to play James Bond was Scotsman Sean Connery and he has since been played by Australian George Lazenby, Welshman Timothy Dalton and Irishman Pierce Brosnan.

The Chester-born current actor Daniel Craig is due to appear in the 24th installment of the franchise Spectre , which is scheduled to be released in November.

Roger Moore starred in seven Bond films between Live and Let Die in 1973 and A View to a Kill in 1985.

Like Idris Elba, he was born in London.

The interpretation of his comments has led to Sir Roger trending in the top ten of Twitter's United Kingdom trends list on Saturday.

His comments prompted a large amount of reaction on the social media site, both attacking and defending what he said.

Corey B King said: "This is nothing worse than an old racist...to live 70 plus years with all of that hatred in your heart....#rogermoore"

Jean Johansson tweeted: "What prevents @idriselba from being 'English English'? #rogermoore . Ignorant old fool."

But comic Sanjeev Bhaskar ‏tweeted: "Been reading about this @sirrogermoore is a racist crap. Utter garbage. Check his @UNICEF work against what a #tabloid reports #rogermoore".

Sir Roger recently won an apology from the Daily Mail over a 2014 article that wrongly claimed he had groped a young actress on the set of a James Bond film.