James Bond is the longest-running film series in movie history so who better to discuss the villains, girls and gadgets than the longest-running Bond of all time, Sir Roger Moore. As he prepares to meet fans in Kent, here is an extract from his new book talking about the his early days as 007.

So how do you follow someone as hugely popular as Sean Connery – the original 007] I hear you ask? Well, I was conscious I should at least not speak with a Scottish accent, and after discussions with director Guy Hamilton it was decided I would never order a vodka Martini, neither shaken nor stirred, nor would I drive an Aston Martin. They were too closely associated with Sean. I had to be the same, but different.

Of course, I watched Sean’s films again, and while not speaking directly with him about the part – after all, would I have called Larry Olivier and asked him about playing Hamlet had I been offered it? – being a friend of his I knew why he quit the role, and remember his declaring he’d “created a monster”. Sean wanted to distance himself from 007 and the associated hysteria and potential typecasting, to tackle other acting roles. I, on the other hand, was just grateful for a job.

Oh, and I should not forget George Lazenby, who had one shot at playing Jim in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969. By his own admission George was not an actor. He was a car salesman who began modelling and then slid sideways into acting work. His good looks and ability to throw a punch, coupled with his arrogance, secured him the part.

I got to know him later on and, with hindsight, he admitted he had made a huge mistake in not signing on for seven movies, as originally offered, and parachuting out after just one on the advice of his friend-cum-manager Ronan O’Rahilly, who stated, “Bond is Connery’s gig. Make one and get out.”

The irony is, George is probably never going to be able to shake Bond off.

My friend Peter Hunt directed On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and, while very pleased with how it turned out, did confide in me that he’d had many problems with his lead actor’s behaviour; presumably not helped by Harry Saltzman saying: “You are now a star, George. Behave like one.” Stories became legendary of George sending back the studio car in the mornings because he didn’t like the colour, demanding a car to take him the 50 yards from his dressing room to the Pinewood restaurant, and of eating garlic ahead of a love scene.

As had become the tradition, Cubby and Harry invited me to Eon’s HQ in South Audley Street to watch the first screening of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. I guess there were 30 or 40 other people there, one being Bob Goldstein, who then headed up 20th Century Fox. He stood up at the end of the film, leaned over to Cubby and said in his gruff voice: “You should have killed him and saved the girl!” In October 1972, I picked up my script, turned to page one and, heeding the advice of The Master, Noël Coward, prepared to “learn the lines and don’t bump into the furniture”.

I guess I did something right, as, from then until we wrapped on my seventh Bond adventure 13 years later, people went to see the films and kept me gainfully employed.

When I handed in my licence to kill I was constantly asked who should replace me. No! I lie. I was asked that question after about my third film, which, of course, gives an insecure actor a great feeling of being wanted.

In fact, I did make a number of suggestions to Cubby – always names of really bad actors so I looked good by comparison. In the end, I was forced to abandon that idea as I couldn’t find any actors worse than me.

Extracted from Bond on Bond: The Ultimate Book on 50 Years of Bond Movies by Roger Moore, published by Michael O'Mara Books. Costs £25.

Sir Roger Moore will sign copies of Bond on Bond at Waterstones, Bluewater, on Saturday, October 13 from 3pm. First come first served. Call 0843 290 8159