2007 NEWS ARCHIVE
December 11
Sir Roger Moore slams treatment of British troops. Sir Roger Moore has launched a scathing attack on the treatment of British troops. The British actor, most famous for playing James Bond, said he was disgusted by the lack of equipment for the armed forces. He said: "The way our troops are treated, I think that's bloody disgraceful. Our generals say our boys don't have what they need when they're fighting and they want them to go on fighting. It's not good enough," he said on Channel 4's "The Paul O'Grady Show". The keen UNICEF campaigner, 80, said he rarely lost his temper but this was one issue that made his blood boil. He also admitted that he was considering writing his autobiography, but didn't want to dish the dirt on his four wives. He said: "The difficulty is I've been married four times and people expect me to write about my wives. My only comment in the book would be, I've been married four times - does that make me a good husband? Sir Roger spoke about his close friendship with fellow actors Michael Caine and Sean Connery, although admitted they didn't get together as often as he'd like. Although the friends met for a meal recently at Michael Parkinson's pub The Royal Oak in White Waltham. "Is he behind the bar?" asked O'Grady. "Behind it, sometimes under it," joked Sir Roger. Owen Williams for ShowbizSpy
December 13
It's the spy who loved Cadbury. Western Daily Press reports: "Workers at the threatened Cadbury factory in Keynsham were yesterday invited to meet a Minister in a last-ditch bid to save 500 jobs. Competitiveness Minister Stephen Timms promised to see them during a special Commons debate, as campaigners stepped up their efforts to prevent the closure of the Somerdale factory. And they also received surprise support from a separate quarter - Sir Roger Moore, star of seven James Bond films, who said the famous old factory should be spared." Read entire article by Matthew George at the Western Daily Press. Thanks to Phil Rico
December 10
Agent Crush update. Awaiting for the premiere of "Agent Crush" sometime next year, the official website of the film was updated with additional information, photos, music and videos. Official trailer and poster ("Saving the World. No Strings Attached") are also available online. There's a also a nice video showing Sir Roger Moore recording his role of Burt Gasket. You can watch it HERE. Fore more information about "Agent Crush", including essential cast and crew information go HERE.
December 6
Welcome the new Saint. James Purefoy, who played Mark Antony in "Rome" is set to play the new Simon Templar in the forthcoming TV series of The Saint. Bill Macdonald tells www.saint.org (the official website of The Saint Club) that his team is prepping a two-hour pilot for a European shoot. The reason for shooting in Europe is the current strike situation in U.S. would otherwise hold up production. Shooting in Berlin and Australia begins in April. Bill goes on to say that the show is being produced by himself (William J. MacDonald), Geoffrey Moore (Sir Roger Moore's son), and Jorge Zamacona (most recently of "Oz"). James Purefoy, who will play the new Saint, was screen tested for the role of James Bond in 1995 for "Goldeneye", and throughout 2004 and 2005 Purefoy's name was rumoured as a possible candidate to replace Brosnan as agent 007 in future James Bond films. These rumors surfaced again before the 2006 film, "Casino Royale". Source: www.saint.org
November 27
New DVD special hosted by Sir Roger Moore. October saw the release of a new DVD special entitled "Unlocking Ancient Secrets of the Bible", produced by by Crystal Entertainment, and hosted by Sir Roger Moore. Here's the synopsis of the film: For centuries, scientists and historians have debated the factuality and exact origin of Biblical accounts - from Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden, to the Great Flood that swept over the Earth, to Jonah's trip into the belly of the whale. Now, British actor Roger Moore of the James Bond series hosts the feature-length documentary release "Unlocking Ancient Secrets of the Bible" - in which the thespian journeys to the Holy Land and searches for indisputable evidence to confirm or negate Biblical accounts, one by one. Drawing on interviews with astronomers, historians and archaeologists, the program discusses the validity of such events as Eden, the Ark, the Ten Commandments and the Red Sea, as well as the actual authorship of the Bible (God or Man?) As an added bonus, it features dramatic reenactments of many events from the New Testament and explores the martyrdom of the early Christian saints. The film is available thru Amazon.co.uk for £5.73.
November 8
Sir Roger Moore supports UNICEF/IKEA initiativie. Fundraising.co.uk reports: In the run up to Christmas, IKEA stores around the world will be donating the equivalent of 1 euro to be shared equally by UNICEF and Save the Children, for every soft toy sold. IKEA's Soft Toy Campaign runs from 3 November to 24 December. Toys sold in the retailer's 237 stores worldwide and 15 stores in the UK will benefit the education work of UNICEF and Save the Children in nine countries including Albania, Bangladesh, Russia, and Vietnam. The soft toys included in the promotion range in price from 49p to £12.99. The donation of £1 in UK stores will be given for every soft toy bought, irrespective of the purchase price or how many are bought in one transaction. For example, if a customer buys six soft toys at 49p, IKEA will donate £6. The goal for the UK element of the campaign is £275,000. This is the third year that IKEA has run this campaign. So far it has raised over E6.9 million around the world. The 2007 campaign aims to raise a further E4 million. The campaign will be supported in-store by IKEA's radio station IKEA Live, which will feature specially recorded messages from UNICEF Ambassador and former James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore, Save the Children supporter and Radio 1 star Edith Bowman and celebrity TV interior design duo Colin and Justin. Films highlighting the work of both UNICEF and Save the Children will also be shown on in-store plasma screens. Thanks to Phil Rico
November 5
Sir Roger Moore's appeal to Turkish government. Taking his role as a UNICEF ambassador a great deal more seriously than he took James Bond, Sir Roger Moore, listened attentively to a fellow passenger on a flight to Budapest last week who told him of the bloodshed likely to ensue if Turkey launched military strikes against the Kurdish area of Iraq. The man, himself a Kurd, appealed to Sir Roger to champion his cause, and, as good as his word, he is to make a heartfelt appeal to the Turkish government. "It saddens me greatly to think that we are poised for another Darfur," the actor will say in an open letter. "As a UNICEF ambassador and a concerned human being, I humbly appeal to the Turkish government to think about the consequences of any actions that will adversely affect these innocent children." The Telegraph
October 31
Sir Roger Moore in Hungary. Sir Roger gave a pres conference to help promote the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra's charity concerts to benefit UNICEF. The pair of concerts, on Oct 29 and 30 were conducted by the National Philharmonic's artistic director Zoltán Kocsis, they were scheduled to include the overture to Glinka's opera "Ruslan and Ludmilla", Musorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition", and Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals", in which Sir Roger was the narrator. Géza Kovács, the National Philharmonic's General Director said that the National Philharmonic was proud to be able to support UNICEF with its fund-raising concerts, and said that the concerts would not only be broadcast on Hungarian television in December, but that a DVD of it would also be released. Full report and photographs from the event can be afound at Roger-Moore.com. Source: Marie-France Vienne
Sir Roger supports BBC's Children In Need. In support of this year's BBC Children In Need Appeal, Sir Roger has agreed to team up with Sir Terry Wogan and auction themselves for a lunch. It will be part of the "Things Money Cannot Buy" auction on BBC Radio 2 in the week prior to Children In Need. Details can be found HERE.
October 28
Sir Roger honoured for UNICEF work. Former Saint and James Bond star has been honoured for his work as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. The 80-year-old actor received the Dag Hammarskjöld Inspiration award at a ceremony in New York on 25th October. The prestigious humanitarian award is presented in memory of the second United Nations Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld, who died in a plane crash in September 1961. Sir Roger is only the second recipient of the Dag Hammarskjöld Inspiration Award, which is given annually by the Board of Directors of the Dag Hammarskjöld Scholarship Fund. The award was established in 2006 to pay tribute to the mission of Mr.Hammarskjöld ? one of the most respected humanitarians of the 20th century ? and to further his work on advancing peace and diplomacy. Its first recipient was Swedish diplomat Jan Eliasson, a past president of the UN General Assembly. Moore is glad his fame has allowed him to devote his time to good causes. He said, "Bond will never go away, thank goodness. But I would like to think I've done some good in the world. I've been an exceedingly lucky actor, and the luck of it all was that I was able to come and work for UNICEF." Full report from the ceremony is available on Roger-Moore.com.
Source: Marie-France Vienne
October 24
Sir Roger awarded at the Thalians Gala Ball. Sir Roger Moore was guest of honour at the 52nd Annual Thalians Gala Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. He was awarded with a lifetime achievement award for his services to UNICEF. The Gala was a star-studded extravaganza featuring four former Bond
girls (incl. Maud Adams and Lois Chiles). You can read more and see some photos of this evening on Roger-Moore.com.
Source: Marie-France Vienne
October 23
Exclusive auction to benefit UNICEF. From Sweden With Love, a well known Swedish James Bond fansite, has the honor to host an auction for a special and unique portrait of actor and UNICEF ambassador Sir Roger Moore. The auction is for the original portrait, measures 30x24 inch, created by Canadian artist Cathia Hamel. 8 lithographs, measuring 20x16 inch each, are also available to purchase directly using Paypal. All items signed in person by Sir Roger Moore in New York and artist
Cathia Hamel. THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS SALE WILL BENEFIT UNICEF! For more information how to bid and/or buy any of the lithographs please follow this link.
Source: Anders Frejdh
October 21
Sir Roger in New York City. Sir Roger Moore will be presenting the 25th Anniversary Princess Grace Awards at Sotherby's in New York City on 25th October 2007. The Princess Grace Foundation recognizes emerging talent in theater, dance, and film. With Larry King as Master of Ceremonies, this year's
event will be held in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and T.R.H. The Prince and Princess of Hanover. George Lucas is to be given the Prince Rainier III Award. More info on www.pgfusa.org.
Source: Marie-France Vienne
October 18
Sir Roger Moore announces autobiography. British acting legend Sir Roger Moore is to write his autobiography, with agent Lesley Pollinger opening the Frankfurt bidding at £1m for world rights. Sir Roger, best known for his roles as James Bond and The Saint, leads a host of film, music and fashion icons with books for sale at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, including Keith Richards, Jerry Hall and Twiggy. On the eve of his 80th birthday, Sir Roger has finally agreed to tell his life story including his four marriages, most famous performances, and his escapades with friends including Michael Caine, Tony Curtis, Sean Connery and David Niven. The memoir is tentatively
scheduled for publication in autumn 2008, with a working title of "My Word is My Bond". In a note to be circulated to publishers, he said: "I'm not looking to dish dirt or recycle sleaze stories, goodness knows there is enough of that in the world. Rather, I would like to write a warm, amusing, and maybe even slightly emotional volume that tells my story; corrects some of the inaccuracies previously reported; offers an insight into the world of a jobbing actor and retired 007; and reflects my love of life." The book will be ghostwritten by Gareth Owen, Sir Roger's personal assistant and author of film books including "The Pinewood Story". He said: "Turning 80 is a milestone, a time to reflect. It'll be a frank
and fun book, but he's not interested in digging the dirt." Pollinger said that a £1m-plus world rights deal would reflect the actor's enduring appeal in the US.
October 14
Happy Birthday, Sir Roger! Today Sir Roger Moore turns 80. Best wishes and congratulations from the webteam! As every year we look back at his activities since the last October up until now and, as usually, it's been a busy year for former Saint and James Bond. As UNICEF ambassador he's been among people responsible for the Measles Initiative progress, he took part in the J8 Summit and also visited Hungary, Germany and Austria. On the artistic front, Sir Roger has contributed to such projects as the recording of the poetry of Kipling ("Catching Life By The Throat" CD) and various radio and TV specials (incl. "Leslie Charteris - A Saintly Centennial" for BBC and "Life Below The Line: the World Poverty Crisis" for American TV). He also issued a plea for a "caring" buyer to come forward and save London's world famous Elstree Film Studios, where "The Saint" was filmed and joined campaign for saving Odeon cinema in Chester. Sir Roger has also thrown his weight behind a campaign to help people who suffer from blackouts recently and was one of the keynote speakers at the Oxonian Society's 2006 annual black tie gala. Two days ago he was honoured with a Star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame and soon he is to recieve a "Mr. Wonderful" honoree during this year's Thalians Gala Ball.
Report from a suprise birthday party.
October 12
Roger Moore Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Sir Roger Moore was honored with a well-deserved star on the world-famous Walk of Fame in Hollywood, CA on October 11. Moore's is the 2,350th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is appropriately located at 7007 Hollywood Blvd, off of Orange Avenue. Stefanie Powers and two-time Felix Leiter David Hedison (who also worked with Moore on "The Saint" and in "Ffolkes") were guest speakers at the ceremony.
Roger-Moore.com Report
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October 10
The World Magic Awards. Sir Roger Moore will host the World Magic Awards on Saturday October 13, at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, in the US. A portion of the proceeds will go to Feed the Children, reports The Times. The organisation helps with programmes to feed children and their families, responds to disasters worldwide and assists children who have been abandoned, have lost parents to the HIV/Aids epidemic or have endured violence or poverty. The gala will be broadcast on MyNetwork TV in the U.S. later this fall.
Saving Odeon cinema in Chester. Legendary James Bond star, Sir Roger Moore, is the latest person to join a petition to save the Odeon. Sir Roger, who lived in Chester for a short time during the Second World War, said: "When I was sent to join my mother in Chester during the height of the London Blitz, I continued my romance with cinema and Hollywood at the Chester Odeon. I love cinemas, particularly the wonderful Art Deco Odeons. To think the one in Chester might forever be lost to a nightclub or other such venue saddens me greatly and I wholeheartedly lend my support to the campaign to save it." Read more at Chester's Evening Leader.
October 1
Lois Maxwell (1927-2007). Actress Lois Maxwell, who played Miss Moneypenny in 14 James Bond movies, has died in Australia aged 80. Sir Roger Moore, who had known her for more than 60 years, spoke to the BBC about his friend and co-star. "I'd known Lois from the beginning of my acting career, we were both drama students at Rada in 1944 and 1945. We first played opposite each other in Pride and Prejudice. I was Darcy, she was Elizabeth. She was a very fine actress with a great
sense of humour. I think it was a great disappointment to her that she had not been promoted to play M. She would have been a wonderful M. Lois was wonderful, absolutely perfect casting. It was a great pity that after I moved out of Bond, that they didn't take her on to continue in the Timothy Dalton films. She had a tremendous sense of humour. She used to sing dirty songs, from the Canadian women's army in which she'd served. We'd done a number of episodes of The Saint and The Persuaders! together, so over the past 60 years I'd seen a great deal of her. But unfortunately, not over the last couple of years. She had a quite a wide range of parts before she went into the Bond franchise. I'm afraid she got sort of typecast as Miss Moneypenny,that's what producers do, unfortunately, they put people in categories, they don't seem to move people out of them. At the National Movie Awards, I presented an award to [Bond producers] Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. It's a pity the timing was so bad, we really could have given her a tribute then." BBC
Speaking to Sky News, Moore said: "Lois and I first met in 1944 when we were in the same class at RADA. We shared the same year of birth and we played opposite each other at RADA. I was the only actor in the class who was tall enough to actually play opposite her. We did Pride And Prejudice together, we did Henry V and then of course she worked with me on the stage and in The Saint and The Persuaders! and all my Bond movies." Moore described how happy he was to see her when he stepped onto the set for the first time as 007. "Lois was particulary friendly because we had known each other for such a long time," he said. "She had a son called Christian, and I had a son called Christian, so we had a great deal in common." Asked if she was the definitive Miss Moneypenny, he said: "Absolutely and I think it was a great pity that she wasn't considered to become M. That would have been wonderful. Last night we had the National Movie Awards and I presented the recognition award to Barbara Broccili, Cubby's daughter. It's a pity we didn't have the news then so we could have paused for a tribute to her. Lois Maxwell didn't have enough tributes in her life. She was my lucky token and those that remember the Bond films with Moneypenny will remember her with great affection. She will certainly be missed by me and I'm sure by millions of fans around the world." SkyNews
Sir Roger Moore talking about Lois Maxwell
"Bond without Moneypenny is a travesty" - The Daily Mirror interview with Lois Maxwell, Dec 2005
Lois Maxwell at IMDb.com
Lois Maxwell at TheGoldenYears.org
September 30
Visit in Germany and Austria. Sir Roger Moore and his wife Kristina Tholstrup were in Austria last week to launch the UNICEF campaign "Schools for Africa". The event took place on 25 Sep in the Austrian parliament. During the event Sir Roger also took part in the presentation of the UNICEF book "2010 and still more nights!". Earlier this year, in June, Sir Roger and his wife visited Berlin where they were joined by German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl and visited the event "Pariser Platz der Kulturen" (Paris square of cultures) taking place in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
September 24
Sir Roger Moore To Be Honoured At The 52nd Thalians Gala Ball. Sir Roger Moore has been chosen as the 2007 "Mr. Wonderful" honoree for the upcoming Gala Ball thrown by The Thalians in Beverly Hills, California on 21 October 2007.
Founded in 1955, The Thalians mission is to achieve better mental health for the community and the world at large. For those afflicted with mental and psychological illnesses and diseases, they provide full and complete lives through the Thalians Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Thalians is an all volunteer organization.
"Sir Roger Moore is known to all of us by a variety of names - Bond, James Bond, The Saint, 007, and many others as a result of a long, varied and successful career. Moore is also well known for his service to UNICEF. Sir Roger will also receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 10 October at 11:30 AM."
For further information on the event visit the official website. CommanderBond.net
September 18
"Agent Crush" update. The official website of the film (www.agentcrush.com) has a 15-minute video about the making of the film. Unfortunately, Sir Roger isn't interviewed for that one. However, there are other guests, incl. Ioan Gruffudd and Brain Blessed. The film is now in the final stages of production and is set to premiere worldwide in 2008. Sir Roger "plays" Burt Gasket, a Supreme Commander of the World Security Network. Detailed description of the character can be found on www.agentcrush.com. It was originally planned to present the film during this year's Cannes Film Festival but the film wasn't ready yet. Instead it was promoted with a large poster on the front of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.
September 10 & 25
Roger Moore performance in the Nobel Museum in Stockholm. Sir Roger Moore will visit The Nobel Museum in Stockholm on the 22nd September for a Rudyard Kipling Theme Day, this to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Kiplings Nobel Prize in Literature. Roger Moore will perform his one man show about Kipling - the man behind the poem. All ticket proceeds will be donated to UNICEF.
Thanks to M.-F. Vienne
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August 19
Photoshoot and trailer for German TV. Sir Roger Moore has taken part in a photoshoot and trailer for German television channel Das Vierte to promote "The Persuaders" and "The Saint" being shown on the network from 1st September 2007. The shoot took place in Monaco, where Sir Roger also gave a comprehensive interview which will be shown on the channel on 2nd September 2007. A German translation of the transcript is on the network's network's website. MI6.co.uk
August 10
"Maverick" on Good Life TV. Before Roger Moore became The Saint, he had a recurring role on the TV series, Maverick, starring either James Garner and Jack Kelly.Now that Maverick is being re-run on TV in various countries, including Good Life in the US, watch for a young pre-Saint Roger Moore in 14 episodes from 1959 to 1961. Roger was a regular on the show beginning in 1960 (he had been in one episode, "The Rivals" before that), co-starring as Beauregard "Beau" Maverick, Bret and Bart Maverick's cousin. His regular appearances were due to the fact that James Garner had left the show over a contract dispute. Maverick was a clever show that used a lot of comedy to lighten up the action. There are many Saintly touches, in that the Maverick cousins are basically good people who will go outside the law to correct wrongs that need to be righted. The intelligent con games of outsmarting your rivals instead of beating them up will certainly appeal to Saint fans who want to see a young Roger Moore playing a Texas Templar. Also soon "Maverick" series is to be released on DVD. Source: www.saint.org
Mike Reid, Roger Moore's Stunt Double dies at 67. Mike Reid, famous for his role as Frank Butcher on the "EastEnders", and not-so-famous for being Roger Moore's stunt double on "The Saint", passed away on July 29th. Look for Mike in various scenes of "The Saint" as the much taller Simon Templar doing the really dangerous work. The Independent reports: "Mike Reid, 'the great storyteller' and comedian, the actor and master of the politically incorrect joke, died on July 29, aged 67. His agent, David Hahn, told the BBC that the stand-up comic was in Marbella, Spain, where he owned a villa, when he suffered a fatal heart attack while apparently in good health. 'Mike was in fine fettle. Only a couple of weeks ago we were having dinner and Mike went to see his consultant that day, had a full medical and they gave him a clean bill of health.' Reid played Frank Butcher in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" and starred in the British gangster film, "Snatch". Born in Hackney, London, he began his career as a stuntman, working on films such as "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "Spartacus", as well as on "The Saint" as a stunt double for Roger Moore. Rising to fame on London's comedy circuit, Reid worked as a stand-up comedian in the 1960s in clubs and cruise liners. His big break came in the seventies in a popular television series, "The Comedians", that consisted of short slots by mature comedians. Reid had a daughter by his first marriage and two sons by his second wife, Shirley Collins. Last night, Mr Hahn said of Reid's wife: 'Mike was her life.' The entertainer Russ Abbot said Reid was a great story-teller who had a great sense of comic timing. 'There are certain comedians who do one-liners, but Mike was a story-teller and a great deliverer,' he said. Reid's close friend and fellow comedian Frank Carson, speaking in Spain, said his death was 'absolutely devastating'. Source: www.saint.org
July 15
"Leslie Charteris - A Saintly Centennial" on BBC radio 4. This year marks the centenary of the birth of popular fiction writer Leslie Charteris, best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias The Saint. In this special programme, actor and Saint portrayer Roger Moore explores the life and legacy of Charteris and reveals a world of adventure, torment, insecurity, failed marriages and enormous success as a thriller writer. The adventures of The Saint have appeared continuously since 1928, making Simon Templar the longest-running character in contemporary detective fiction. But there was more to Charteris's literary acuity than The Saint alone. He was fluent in several languages; he had a monthly column in the epicurial delight, Gourmet magazine; and he devised a pictorial sign language which he called "Paleneo" and wrote a book about it. He was also one of the earliest members of Mensa. Despite his film-star looks, with a hint of exoticism, Charteris suffered from a long-standing insecurity about his appearance, arising from his mixed racial origin. In later years he dated some of Hollywood's most beautiful women, among them Marlene Dietrich and Jean Harlow. It wasn't until 1963, when Lou Grade cast Roger Moore and filmed the first television series of The Saint, that Charteris at last felt he'd received the final seal of approbation that had eluded him for 30 years. Among those exploring the world and psyche of Charteris are Dan Bodenheimer, who runs the official Saint website; Burl Barer, author of The History Of The Saint; and Charteris's biographer Ian Dickerson. The show will air on Tuesday, July 31 between 11:30 am and 12:00 noon on BBC Radio 4. The show's author is Barbra Paskin.
June 29
At the Norisring event in Nürnberg. Legendary actor, Roger Moore, visited the DTM season highlight at the Norisring last weekend, 23/24 June 2007. After the 79 year old Briton watched qualifying in the afternoon together with his wife Kristina Tholstrup, he was the star guest at a huge DTM VIP party in the evening. During a visit to the pit box area, Audi's motorsport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich explained the technical details of the Audi A4 DTM to Sir Roger. Afterwards Sir Roger signed numerous autographs for fans. After 74 laps at the Norisring street circuit in Nuremberg, the Canadian Mercedes-Benz driver was the first driver to take the chequered flag, waved by... Sir Roger himself. "Motorsport is fascinating, although I am more of a cautious driver myself", said the actor. Detailed report on Roger-Moore.com. M.-F. Vienne
June 24
June Randall honoured. June Randall was presented with the Eon/GBCT Lifetime Achievement Award for Script Supervisors on 2nd June 2007. Roger Moore flew to London to attend the celebrations and to present this award to Randall. June first started working in the British Film Industry in the 1940s, and
she has worked with Sir Roger over many years, from episodes on the television series "The Saint" (1962) through to such feature films as "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977), "The Wild Geese" (1978) and "A View to a Kill" (1985). Detailed report on Roger-Moore.com. M.-F. Vienne
June 18
At the Monte Carlo Film Festival. Sir Roger Moore and his wife Christina attended the 47th Monte Carlo Television Festival. They also took part in the official opening and closing ceremonies held at Grimaldi Forum on June 10 and June 14 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. You can find out more at the festival's official website.
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June 10
Book and Magazine Collector on Leslie Charteris. Book and Magazine Collector's June 2007 issue features, "Leslie Charteris: 100 Years of The Creator of The Saint." The long 13-page article was written by Norman Wright, begins on page 36 of the issue. The article discusses Charteris' creation of the Saint and is printed in full color with some marvelous illustrations of Roger Moore, George Sanders, Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Louis Hayward, magazine appearances, various dustjackets, and paperback editions. The issue went on sale May 10, 2007. Saint.org
June 5
Sir Roger at the J8 Summit in Germany. Teenagers from industrial and developing countries are hoping to make the Group of Eight leaders hear their concerns about poverty, climate change, AIDS and other issues at this week's summit in Germany. In addition to their meeting with Chancellor Merkel, J8 representatives also holded a press conference with UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore in Berlin. He appealed to the G-8 leaders to pay attention to them. "They are so much wiser than my generation because they are more tolerant," said Moore, 79. "I sincerely hope the G-8 leaders will listen to them." You can read more at Roger-Moore.com.
May 29
"The Persuaders!" remake. The Telegraph has some news regarding the remake of "The Persuaders!". Interesting, though neither Sir Roger or Tony Curtis are mentioned to have cameos. Celia Walden wrote for The Telegraph from Cannes: "Hugh Grant and George Clooney are to star in a film remake of cult television show The Persuaders. Following the recent Hollywood trend for turning classic films and small-screen series into blockbusters, the pair will reprise the international playboy roles made famous by Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. As one of the biggest cult television series of the 1970s, it commanded high viewing figures on both sides of the Atlantic. And with two of the most bankable leading men on board, there will be much pressure on the 135 million film to be a success. The film is being co-developed by Ben Stiller, the star of Meet the Fockers, and will see Grant play aristocratic Englishman Lord Brett Sinclair with Clooney as his wise-cracking American friend Danny Wilde. In the original series Sinclair and Wilde found themselves in front of a judge after destroying a restaurant during a fight on the French Riviera. They are given a choice of going to jail or fighting crime. After grudgingly agreeing to join forces, they travel the world fighting gangsters and spies. The film is set to be a pared down version of the 24 one-hour episodes, with the two idiosyncratic, wealthy rogues investigating a crime the police cannot solve in a series of exotic locations and risking their lives for one another in the process. We're very excited about the project finally coming together, Nick Hamson, the co-producer, said. It's been an idea we've been keen to pursue and we're so pleased that it is now in development. People of our generation grew up watching The Persuaders religiously. Brass Hat, the British film company, will co-produce the film with Hyde Park Entertainment for release in December 2008."
May 17
"Agent Crush" update. The official Agent Crush website is growing fast. There's a plenty of new reading stuff including detailed information about each character, behind-the-scenes information and videos of actors recording their parts (incl. Roger Moore). Although the production is set to commence in September, the released date has now been pushed to 2008, both for Europe and USA. The Internet Movie Database has all the details listed. We'll be updating our website with the new information right away as well.
May 5
"Not easily shaken, or stirred". Four years ago Sir Roger Moore passed out on stage when appearing in "The Play What I Wrote" in New York. Now he has become a patron of Stars (Syncope Trust and Reflex Anoxic Seizures), the UK charity supporting people who have blackouts, who asked for his support after reading about his nasty turn on stage. Michael Kirsch talks the incident and pacemakers with Sir Roger in an interview with an old pro for The Times. You can read entire article HERE.
April 28
Interview on BBC Radio. Yesterday on BBC Radio Five Live at 7.30 (UK time) Sir roger talked about a few of his Pinewood memories as part of their Breakfast show at the studio.
April 11
"Life Below The Line". On April 6, the CW Network aired a special Life Below The Line: the World Poverty Crisis. Hosted by Bryant Gumbel, this one-hour program explores the hardships of millions of people who struggle every day just to survive poverty. "We wanted to show that poverty is all over the world, but also in our own backyard," says David McKenzie, president of Associated Television International, which produces the show. This TV special also features interviews with well-known celebrities using their fame to make a difference against poverty. These celebrities include Della Reese (Actress, Touched By An Angel); John Paul DeJoria (CEO/Co-Founder, John Paul Mitchell Systems); Sir Roger Moore (UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador); Ed Begley, Jr (Actor, Six Feet Under); Jewel (Multiple Award-Winning Recording Artist); and many more. Read more at the official website.
April 11 & March 31
[1] Brand new interview with Sir Roger Moore about STARS for The Daily Mail dated 10 April. Roger-Moore.com
[2] Article from the Philantropy magazine (also with Sir Roger and wife Kristina on cover). Roger-Moore.com
[3] Sir Roger attended the event celebrating Dame Vera Lynn's 90th birthday (Hello magazine). Roger-Moore.com
In the press. Sir Roger Moore features in the current issue (dated 3 April) of Hello magazine, when he attended Dame Vera Lynn's 90th birthday in London. He has also just recorded interviews with The Daily Mail and The Times about the charity STARS. The interview with The Independent On Sunday was dropped in favour of a story on William Wilberforce and, sadly, will now not run.
At the Oxonian Society gala. The Oxonian Society is dedicated to provocative discussion and debate with the world's best and most interesting minds, and is a Manhattan-based non-partisan non-profit organization. The Society is open to people of all educational backgrounds and experiences. Sir Roger Moore was one of the keynote speakers at the Oxonian Society's 2006 annual black tie gala last October. He offered a packed audience at the Princeton Club very personal insights into the global child health crisis. You can read more on Sir Roger's website and even listen to his speech.
March 21
Sir Roger supports people who suffer blackouts. Former James Bond Sir Roger Moore has thrown his weight behind a campaign to help people who suffer from blackouts. Blackouts, which happen when people lose consciousness for a short period, affect over half of all Britons at some stage, campaigners said. Most are caused by a little-known heart problem, according to charity STARS (Syncope Trust And Reflex anoxic Seizures). A new Department of Health-endorsed "blackouts checklist" is available on the STARS website. Anyone with unexplained blackouts can
access it to help them and their doctors reach a correct diagnosis. Blackouts triggered by cardiovascular problems can appear similar to epileptic seizures and are often misdiagnosed as such, the charity said. A blackout that happens when blood supply to the brain is interrupted is called syncope. But the condition is relatively unknown and it is estimated that over a third of patients diagnosed with epilepsy may have been misdiagnosed, the charity said. Sir Roger, 79, who has suffered from syncope, said: "I was lucky, having blacked out on stage I received excellent and rapid medical attention, and I now have a pacemaker which kicks in whenever my heart rhythm requires a correction. Thousands of sufferers aren't so
lucky." The ex-007 continued: "This checklist is what anyone who has had a blackout should use, as it could save years of confusion, fear and the tragedy of misdiagnosis."
March 15
Sir Roger on the radio and in The Independent. On Sunday 18th March 2007, Mother's Day, the Patron, Sir Roger Moore will be broadcasting an appeal on behalf of STARS. Tune into 92-95fm at 07.55 hours and 21.26 hours and again on the following Thursday 22nd March at 15.27 hours. Please listen and encourage all your family and friends to do likewise. This is a wonderful opportunity to raise the profi le of STARS and much needed funds for the charity. In addition in Sunday's (18th March) edition of The Independent, Sir Roger is giving an interview about his collapse on stage in New York in 2003, life with a pacemaker and his awareness campaign for STARS.
Marie-France Vienne/Garteh Owen
March 17 & February 18
"Agent Crush" news. An official Agent Crush website is now online at www.agentcrush.com. Although it's actually halfway there as for the moment, it brings lots of interesting information and gives an insight into the making of the film. The cast is now confirmed and it does include Sir Roger Moore doing a voice-over of the character of Burt Gasket. The picture on the left shows the actor recording his parts. The film is directed by Sean Robinson, with whom you can read an ineretsing interview on the website. No full release date has been announced.
A sneak preview of what we can expect from the film (unfortunately yet without Sir Roger's voice-over)
February 16
We are most happy to announce that today is exactly 5 years since our website went online. Thank you to all visitors, all who have contributed and showed their help,and above all, thank you to Sir Roger Moore for being with us. Bottoms up!
February 8
Doodle with Sir Roger Sir Roger Moore once more joins the National Doodle Day. His doodle will be auctioned on eBay on Friday 23 February 2007. The event, which grows bigger each year, raises vital funds for Epilepsy Action and The Neurofibromatosis Association. This year's theme is "Doodle Daydreams." An online auction will be launched on eBay on National Doodle Day (23 Feb) and will run for 10 days, giving people the opportunity to bid for their favourite celebrity doodle. To find out more visit the official National Doodle Day website.
February 5
The Measles Initiative - one of many global partnerships in which UNICEF plays a leading role - has announced dramatic progress in the fight against a major childhood killer disease. Deaths from measles dropped by 60 per cent worldwide over a five-year period, with an estimated 2.3 million lives saved through intensified efforts to vaccinate millions of children, according to new data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Between 1999 and 2005, more than 360 million children under the age of 15 were immunized as a result of campaigns in 45 priority countries. The total number of deaths from measles fell from 873,000 to 345,000 a year. This unprecedented decline is a historic victory for public health. The encouraging news about measles comes some five years after the Measles Initiative partnership was formed by UNICEF, WHO, the American Red Cross, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United Nations Foundation. But in spite of this success, the disease remains a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among children. Over the coming years, increased attention will be paid to countries in South Asia with large numbers of measles deaths. The new goal of the Measles Initiative is to achieve a 90 per cent reduction in measles deaths worldwide by 2010. HERE you can watch Sir Roger Moore talking about the success of the Measles Initiative and HERE you can read more about the progress of the initiative.
January 28
"The Saint" on BBC America. Since 22 January "The Saint" starring Roger Moore is being aired on BBC America everyday except weekends at 4pm. You can follow the TV schedule HERE.
January 21 January 19 January 2 ARCHIVE
Roger Moore in CinemaRetro. The current issue (#8) of CinemaRetro has an article about Roger Moore and his recent honor at Elstree Studios. This is the second time Roger Moore has appeared in CinemaRetro. In issue #2, Cinema Retro was invited to spend a day with Sir Roger as he attended a charity banquet with show business royalty, followed by a public screening of "The Man Who Haunted Himself". Get an inside look at a day in the life of this living legend. Saint.org
Ultimate James Bond Edition - Roger Moore. There are quite a lot various editions of James Bond DVDs available. The most recent one, with additional disc featuring tens of extra short documentaries, archival recordings and brand new commentaries by Roger Moore comes in differet versions. One of them comprises films of each actor as a separate box set. "Ultimate James Bond Edition - Roger Moore" is the largest one - it includes 14 discs. For detailed information about extra features go to Play.com. There's also slightly different cover for each country.
"The Saint" returns. Since last April rumours keep surfacing about the Saint's return to the small screen. As time goes by, more and more details get confirmed. Sir Roger's son, Geoffrey, will be producing a new series of TV movies made for TNT. "The rights have been optioned by various companies and are now with Geoffrey and his business partner" - confirmed Moore - "I think my son may be remaking it in the very near future and he might even give me a part." The series is planned to be filmed internationally, and is going to be co-produced by Bill Macdonald, American producer, known for his involvment in the making of "Sliver", "The Saint" with Val Kilmer, and more recently, the "Rome" series.
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