A GB News guest has strongly criticised what they term the 'woke brigade' following comments by Sir Idris Elba suggesting that some audiences would not accept a black actor portraying James Bond. The British actor made headlines this week after denying long-standing rumours that he is among the candidates to replace Daniel Craig as the iconic spy.
Speaking to GQ, Elba expressed flattery at the suggestion but insisted that the character 'was written how he was written for a reason' and urged against making the role 'woke'. On Tuesday night, presenter Nana Akua welcomed Lizzie Cundy onto the show to discuss Elba's remarks about the 007 franchise.
Cundy Defends Original Character
Cundy declared: 'Idris is totally correct here. Ian Fleming wrote this in the 1950s about a British secret agent named James Bond, and he was white.' She added: 'If the woke brigade doesn't like it and wants a black James Bond, they can make their own version, can't they? Those who want to go woke are going to go broke. Look at what's happened to other brands that have tried to do this.'
Cundy referenced how Fleming created the beloved character and the fundamental characteristics described in the action series. She said: 'We love James Bond because that's the way he was written. He gets the girls, he gets the baddies, he has all the gadgets, but he is white. It's like asking Mary Poppins to be played by Oliver Reed or for Sherlock Holmes to be a woman. You've got to remember that's how it was written.'
Debate Continues Online
The broadcaster shared her own view, admitting she finds the whole debate 'ridiculous'. She said: 'If anyone could pull it off, Idris Elba could, but that's not the point. The character is meant to be white; it's like having a white Martin Luther King. People would be up in arms. It'd be like having a black Churchill, it doesn't make any sense, and I don't understand why the woke brigade are trying to turn everything a bit weird and try and make it all accepting. I find it all a bit ridiculous.'
Viewers quickly took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on the controversy. One user suggested: 'Just make Theo James the next Bond', while another agreed: 'Seriously, if it's a man and British, I wouldn't care.' A third chimed in: 'Lizzie Cundy always speaks sense', and another echoed: 'There are other, common sense ways to be socially conscious.'
The debate comes as Amazon bosses have yet to announce which actor will replace Daniel Craig as 007, with the franchise having grossed over £7.6 billion globally.
