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Ed Miliband has suggested the next star to play James Bond should be a woman.

The Labour leader called for the franchise to "move with the times" - and picked former Bond girl Rosamund Pike to take on the role.

Pike, whose character died in the 2002 film Die Another Day, was praised as a "great British actress" by Mr Miliband.

He said: "I think she's a great British actress, she'd make a great Bond.

"This is 2015, I think we can move with the times."

Mr Miliband also admitted he would not win a "photo opportunity contest", but said the election should not be about that.

He said: "Politicians can get obsessed with themselves - it becomes a personality contest.

"It's not about us, but the British people. If this is a contest to see how someone can eat a bacon sandwich elegantly, I'm not going to win.

"It's about putting working people first in this country - I'm not going to win a photo opportunity contest."

On attacks from David Cameron, he said: "I don't see it that way. It's the rough and tumble of politics.

"My opponents are going to be really personal in the next five weeks. I'm much more worried about another five years of David Cameron. I don't care what people throw at me.

"You get a lot thrown at you, it comes with the territory. The question isn't what's thrown at you - it's your resilience. I'm in this because I want to change the country - if you're in the public eye, then you have to take the brickbats."

Mr Miliband also spoke about his taste in music during the interview.

He said: "I'm a bit of an 80s fan, I like bad taste - things like A-ha Take On Me.

"I'm aware of both Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. I've heard them on radio and both of them are huge exports - they're great artists.

"It's brilliant we have a great number of great British artists, it makes us incredibly proud."

He said singer Ellie Goulding invited him to a charity concert recently where the band Bastille caught his eye.