Moore Glad Fleming Didn't Kill Off Bond

Fleming was rumoured to have considered writing Bond's death at the end of his 1957 novel From Russia With Love, when the spy was poisoned by enemy agent Rosa Klebb.

But he is said to have changed his mind after protests from fans, and brought the character back for a further nine books.

And Moore, who played the secret agent for 12 years between 1973 and 1985, is convinced Fleming made the right decision - because the character went on to become one of the most famous in movie history.

Moore tells Britain's The Sunday Times, "It's true that, like Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, Fleming once toyed with killing off Bond. But his readers protested and he listened.

"They wouldn't allow James Bond to die then, and I don't believe we should any time soon either."