SIR Roger Moore died yesterday (Tuesday, May 23) after a short battle with cancer, aged 89. 

In memory of him we are republishing an interview with the actor from November last year.  

"WHEN I started out in the business about 400 years ago I loved the theatre," said Sir Roger Moore to Redditch Advertiser reporter Liz Sharpe. 

"It seems to have got away from me, with television and films, as the years go by I am more and more afraid of doing a play.”

But the Hollywood legend, who said he had never been to Wolverhampton before, was due to take centre stage at the Grand Theatre, in Lichfield Street, on Thursday, November 17 2016 for his show celebrating 71 years in the business ‘An Afternoon With Sir Roger Moore.’ 

The 89-year-old took a few moments out of his busy schedule to chat before his appearance, which was to feature Moore talking with biographer Gareth Owen about his life, career, behind-the-scene stories and anecdotes.

He had been appearing in these types of exclusive shows for the last few years. 

"We take questions, some of them are very funny and some are very rude," he said. 

"Then everybody has a little drink at the bar. People come back in a happier mood," he quipped.

When asked if he was excited for the show, he added: "I look forward to every day at my age."

The superstar, known for his appearances as Bond in seven 007 movies, said: "It is very easy for me to talk about Bond.

"It is such an easy thing to do."

When asked if he thought Bond could be a woman, Moore, who recently expressed support for Aidan Turner for the role, said: "That type of role yes but not Bond, Bond is Bond. Jane Bond is not Bond.

"Sorry about that," he added.

On being asked if the customary 'Bond girl' should appear in the next instalment of the 50 plus year-old franchise, he said: 

"The James Bond franchise is like reading a children’s bedtime story, it’s the same story. 

"There is a hero, a number of elements people expect, fast cars, the gadgets, lovely ladies, a leading lady, a dashing Bond. 

"If you look behind it nothing has changed."

He also expressed support for Daniel Craig, saying: "I think he is excellent – more action in the first few minutes than I did in 14 years."

Moore, who has written several novels on his time as Bond including an autobiography, said his current favourite author is Jeffrey Archer, who writes military adventures and spy thrillers, and said he is looking forward to reading his next book This Was A Man. 

On writing, he said: "I am always thinking of breaking away from the business. I just think of starting stories. On paper I write a wonderful beginning and two sentences and then just sit there. 

"I envy writers; it is a wonderful gift to be able to imagine stories onto paper."

His taste in television shows is far from easy to predict. 

He said: "My wife thinks I’m disgusting but I love Mrs Brown’s Boys," said Moore. 

"It appeals to me because I have a filthy mind. I’ve just been over to Dublin, they don’t like the way it portrays the Irish."

Speaking on the candidates for US president at the time, Moore said: "I’m not supposed to have a political opinion.

"But I think it’s really sad for America because they’ve got a choice between the frying pan or the fire."