Sir Roger Moore to make debut Edinburgh appearance

Sir Roger Moore today announced he will make his first stage appearance in Edinburgh later this year, as he took a cheeky pop at fellow James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery.

Sir Roger, who stepped into the role made famous by Edinburgh’s greatest son in 1971, jokingly described him as “the best warm-up man in the 
business”,

But there is unlikely to be any bad blood between the pair, as Sir Roger also confirmed what every Scot already knows – that Sir Sean was the better Bond.

Sir Roger is to appear in the Capital this November when he makes his Edinburgh debut – at the age of 85. The veteran film star will be in town for one night only to discuss his astonishing life and career.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening News, Sir Roger said: “I’m greatly looking forward to appearing for the first time in Edinburgh, particularly as the wonderful city is the birthplace of my friend, contemporary and the best warm-up man in the business, Sean Connery.

“Though I never played Bond, or golf, as well as Sean, I do lie better and am told I spin an amusing tale.”

Sir Roger will entertain at the Festival Theatre, on November 11, where Gareth Owen, who worked with the actor on his autobiography, My Word Is My Bond, and his latest book, Bond On Bond, will interview him about his life and career.

Sir Roger will regale the audience with stories covering his seven years as Simon Templar in the hit TV show The Saint, his time with Tony Curtis on The Persuaders, through to his Hollywood blockbusters and his time as Bond.

Sir Roger said: “I actually passed through Edinburgh in 1976 on my way to film part of The Spy Who Loved Me. By popular demand, 37 years later, I’m coming back.”

The son of a policeman, Sir Roger made his film debut in the 1940s as an extra. He later starred in The Saint and The Persuaders, the latter making him the highest paid television actor in the world, earning him £1 million a series.

Today, Sir Roger dedicates much of his time to humanitarian work in his role as a Unicef goodwill ambassador.

Tickets for the event, which is entitled An Evening With Roger Moore, go on sale from the Festival Theatre box office next Tuesday.

THE SPY WHO WAS WELL LOVED

SIR Roger Moore played 007 in seven Bond movies, making his debut in Live and Let Die in 1973.

He last holstered his Walther PPK in the 1985 film A View to a Kill, in between battling a host of megalomaniacs in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981) and Octopussy (1983).

With a 12-year reign, Sir Roger is currently the longest-serving James Bond actor. He is also the oldest, being 45 when he debuted and 58 when he announced his retirement from the role.

With tongue firmly in cheek, Moore’s Bond loved the playboy life-style and brought a lighter touch to the character.