The Bond movies remain the longest continually running film series in movie history, and 2012 marks its fiftieth anniversary. While there have been many actors that have taken on the coveted role of James Bond, the most renowned 007 – and the one with most panache and charisma – is undoubtedly Sir Roger Moore, KBE. To celebrate the film franchise’s wonderful heritage, Roger Moore has written a book that features all the Bond movies, along with a wonderfully witty account of his own involvement in them. From the girls to the villains, from the cars to the cocktails, from the gadgets to the locations, this beautiful book is illustrated with many iconic images from all the films plus many previously unseen shots from the Bond archive. This is the ultimate James Bond book, written by the ultimate James Bond, with all the affection and good humour he brought to the role. It is the perfect gift for all fans of this much-loved series.

You can buy your copy from AMAZON

You can now connect with Sir Roger on his new Google + account.

http://gplus.to/sirrogermoore

Also follow Alan Davidson web manger on Google + and he will return the favour

http://goplus.us/alandavidson

The pair has thrown its support behind charity Age UK’s Bobble Day, which urges the British public to buy colourful knitted accessories to attach to their winter clothes to raise funds for old folk struggling through the cold season as part of the organisation’s Spread The Warmth drive.

Former Bond star Sir Roger, who reveals he was labelled ‘The Big Knit’ by Sir Michael Caine because of his early days as a sweater model, is eager for Brits to purchase the charitable accessories.

He says, “This ‘Big Knit’ now supports Age UK’s Bobble Day and I’ll be urging everyone to wear their favourite knitwear on February 10th: you too could look as debonair, suave and sophisticated as me – Bobble-O-Seven! But more importantly, you will also be helping to save lives by supporting Age UK’s Spread the Warmth campaign.”

Absolutely Fabulous actress Lumley adds, “Please join me in making a donation to Age UK to help older people who are suffering from the cold this winter. It’s a hugely important cause; let’s Spread the Warmth together.”

Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood’s ex-wife Jo is also supporting the campaign.

The 79-year-old Lugner makes headlines in Austria every year by inviting celebrities to the ball, the highlight of Vienna’s social calendar with tickets starting at 250 euros ($327) and boxes going for as much as 18,500 euros. His previous guests have included actresses Andie MacDowell and Faye Dunaway, although in recent years, Lugner has favoured starlets and scandal-sheet regulars like party girl Paris Hilton.

Last year Karima El Mahroug, the teenage Moroccan woman known as “Ruby the Heart-Stealer” who was at the centre of a sex scandal involving former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, was on his arm.

“I look forward to coming to Vienna,” Nielsen, 48, said in a video message at a press conference in the Austrian capital, confirming she would attend the February 16 ball.

The former wife of action star Sylvester Stallone, Nielsen appeared in films like “Rocky IV” and “Beverly Hills Cop II” in the 1980s and most recently in the German production of the reality show “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here”.

British actor Moore, 84, and his wife will also join Lugner in his box, the Austrian said, adding that “lots of women go crazy for him.”

Top model Helena Christensen, 43, will also attend the ball as a guest of lingerie company Triumph.

“When I was in The Saint I thought I was Bond and gambled. The producers thought I’d be a good replacement,” he smiled in an interview with BBC Breakfast. Roger is currently starring in “A Princess for Christmas”, which premiered on the Hallmark Channel earlier this month. The 84-yearold star says the festive movie was a welcome change from his high octane action films. “There’s no bombs, no explosions and no-one gets a disease,” he said, referring to the dramatic Bond storylines. “This is a happy story.”

In the early 1950s, Roger worked as a male model, appearing in print advertisements for knitwear which earned him the amusing nickname ‘The Big Knit’. The star laughs when he thinks of his early reputation, given to him by a fellow British actor. “Only Sir Michael Caine!” he laughed. Roger has enjoyed an illustrious film and television career. He is shocked when he thinks about how long it has spanned.

“It’s further than I can count,” he quipped.

Hello Sir Roger: 

I hope you and your family are doing well. I have a question about filming scenes. Obviously, an actor must memorize and know his lines. Inevitably, in the filming of a scene, there will be moments when the actor forgets his lines. Are there cue cards off camera for the actor to read off? Or is there someone off camera to whisper the forgotten line? Or is the scene simply done again? 

With kind regards, 

Ellis

Hello Ellis

On films you do occasionally dry, and you’re given your script to look at and they then ‘go once more’ on the scene. There isn’t a prompter like in the theatre (as that is live of course, you can’t pause to go look at a script) and rarely are idiot boards used. My friend Desmond Llewelyn used them occasionally for technical dialogue as he got older, but they are a bit of a distraction.

Learn your lines and don’t bump into the furniture!

Question 2

Dear Sir Roger, 

Of course when asked about the most exotic Bond locations, one immediately thinks of Jamaica, India, Thailand, etc. However my own favourite locations are the three Italian ones in three consecutive of your Bonds: 

- Sardinia – in Spy Who Loved Me

- Venice – in Moonraker

- Cortina – in For Your Eyes Only 

Luckily I have been able to visit all three, they are quite close to Austria… 

I would like to ask you if you indeed enjoyed filming in those locations and perhaps which of the three you liked best. 

Thanks and best wishes always 

Martin

Hello Martin

I have enjoyed the majority of locations I’ve worked in, but Sardinia has always – and probably always will – rate of my favourite. It was just heavenly!

If you’ve been to all three, which do you prefer I ask? 

Question 3 

Dear Sir Roger , 

   I’m a 14 year old girl from Greece and I’m a huge fan of you so when I saw on your official website that everyone can ask you a question each month I decided to write you. I love your movies and your TV series. Last summer I read your book ”My word is my Bond” and I found it great. I also admire your work in UNICEF so much. My question is as follows:What was the funniest that ever happened to you while you were shooting a movie?I also like to ask you if you have any plans about starring in another movie after ”Christmas at Castlebury Hall”?

   Well, thank you very much for reading my letter. 

   Will you come to Greece soon? 

With my best wishes 

   Marili Antoniou

Dear Marili

Oh goodness, there are so many funny things I can’t recall them all but on Boat Trip (which I made around the Greek Islands) I was asked to pretend to whisper something into Horatio Sanz’s ear for him then to react with disgust. I didn’t have to say anything, but make it look as though I did. Anyhow, I did actually whisper a few words into his ear which caused him to almost convulse in disgust – no acting was required! The whole crew fell apart and Horatio wouldn’t speak to me for ages!! It was all great fun.

If I’m offered another movie I’ll certainly consider it.

Question 4 

Hello Sir Roger,

I really hope everything is fine with you! 

I’m ALWAYS glad to read all news about you. 

Further to the best James Bond ever of my life (!!!) I’ve always admired another British actor too often undervalued, too quickly forgotten, too soon passed away: Michael Billington, the “dark” side of my ideal beauty (for his hair colour..) when I was a teen-ager and also used to watch the U.F.O. episodes. 

He was screen-tested 5 times for the James Bond role (even if I’m happiest he was definitely YOU   ) and, probably, you barely met, due to the apparently different locations you were at in The spy who loved me.  But it is also possible that you knew very well each other, being both “Children of ITC” for a while. Who knows? Only you! 

However my question is: have you ever felt sort of “rivalry” with him? Do you have any peculiar good or bad memory of him?    

I deeply thank you for your attention and rely on your legendary frankness.

Best regards,

For more than 20 years the actor has been a dynamic supporter of the charity which protects the rights of children around the world and he now asks for the help of a younger generation. The new Junior Ambassador competition will give children up to the age of 18 the chance to get actively involved and creative with the charity UNICEF.

“Day after day, all over the world, the rights of children are abused. During my 20 years with UNICEF my mission was clear: Children must know their rights and we as adults have a responsibility to help them stand up for their rights,” explained Sir Roger Moore as he spoke of his commitment to the Junior Ambassador competition.

All entries will be judged by a team from UNICEF and the winner will be announced in June next year. The winner will be given the opportunity to work with UNICEF with every entrant receiving a certificate for their involvement with the charity and children’s rights.

For more information about the charity and to watch Sir Roger Moore’s video appeal visit: http://www.unicef.at/juniorbotschafter.html

To apply for the competition fill in the online form at: http://www.unicef.at/519.html

 Premiering on The Hallmark Channel December the 3^rd