James Bond legend Sir Roger Moore has again waded into public controversy by insisting that 007 could never be portrayed as a gay man – or be played by a woman – on the simple basis that “wasn’t what Ian Fleming wrote”.

Sir Roger, who played Bond between 1974 and 1985, previously came under fire for his comments regarding the possibility of a black actor such as Idris Elba taking on the role.

He told the London Daily Mail: “I have heard people talk about how there should be a lady Bond or a gay Bond. But they wouldn’t be Bond for the simple reason that wasn’t what Ian Fleming wrote.”

Other Bond actors, including both Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, have backed the idea of a different Bond, Craig saying he“doesn’t give a f**k” if a black or female actor takes on the role.

The 88-year-old star said “political correctness” should not be pandered to, insisting: “It is not about being homophobic or, for that matter, racist – it is simply about being true to the character.”

“There is a danger always of causing offence,” he added. “I suppose you could just about get away with a villain from Burkina Faso, but that’s about it.”

In another blow to incumbent Daniel Craig, Sir Roger claims the best Bond was Shakespearean actor Timothy Dalton, saying: “The films didn’t deserve him. He’d distinguished himself on the stage and did some interesting things with the part.”

As Breitbart News has reported, controversy surrounding the famous character is nothing new and in a recent interview, Daniel Craig denied the contention that James Bond is anything but a one-dimensional misogynist.

Having wrapped up his fourth Bond feature, Spectre, which is set to debut in the U.S. next month, the 47-year-old has been open about the physical and mental demands of playing the iconic British spy.

“I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists,” he told Time Out London earlier this month of potentially reprising his decade-long hold on the role sometime in the near future. “No, not at the moment. Not at all. That’s fine. I’m over it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on.”

Spectre, starring Craig, Christoph Waltz, Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris, opens in UK cinemas tomorrow (Oct. 26) and across the U.S. on Nov. 6.