Brian Cox hits out at the rewriting of classic works including Ian Fleming, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl, saying ‘We don’t muck around with Shakespeare; we shouldn’t muck around with James Bond’

He’s best known as the controlling and psychopathic billionaire media mogul Logan Roy in the hit TV show, Succession.

But off-screen, Brian Cox has spoken out against censorship and control when it comes to re-writing the works of Ian Fleming, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl to remove potentially ‘harmful’ and ‘outdated’ attitudes.

The 77-year-old, who is hosting a new James Bond-themed reality show, said: ‘We don’t muck around with Shakespeare; we shouldn’t muck around with James Bond.

‘The only way we can understand who we are is by acknowledging our history. Look at what has happened in the world today.

‘If we had a real sense of who we are, we wouldn’t have the idiotic clown from Eton [Boris Johnson] or the Pink Pinocchio [Donald Trump] or Borsch and Tears [Vladimir Putin].

Brian Cox as The Controller in the first trailer for the Prime Video series 007: Road To A Million

The 77-year-old, who is hosting a new James Bond-themed reality show, said: ‘We don’t muck around with Shakespeare; we shouldn’t muck around with James Bond’

Earlier this year, the Bond stories came under threat of being ‘censored, not stirred’ as Ian Fleming Publications commissioned ‘sensitivity readers’ with plans to republish the thrillers in April.

Though there has been no update on the re-publication process, it is understood the new versions of classics from Octopussy to Casino Royale will include a disclaimer.

It will read: ‘This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace.

‘A number of updates have been made in this edition while keeping as close as possible to the original text and period in which it is set.’ In an attempt to cut ties between himself and the character, Roy, the Scottish actor has signed up to host a James Bond-themed reality show, 007:Road to a Million, on a beach-front in Jamaica.

The 77-year-old is looking for ‘a bit of fun’ after an intense five years playing the raging billionaire mogul, Logan Roy.

He said: ‘Now I can finally say I’ve been in a Bond production. I always thought I’d make a good villain but nobody’s ever offered.

‘It’s very hard when you go from a show like Succession and try to work out what you’re going to do next.

‘I’m always up for a new adventure. That’s how you keep young when you get to my age.’

Brian Cox has spoken out against censorship and control when it comes to re-writing the works of Ian Fleming, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl to remove potentially ‘harmful’ and ‘outdated’ attitudes

Nine pairs of contestants are sent around the world and undergo dramatic stunts such as swinging from cable cars in Brazil in search of briefcases containing quiz questions.

Mr Cox plays the Controller – a puppet master inspired by Bond villains such as Blofeld – who watches the tasks from a shadowy lair and sets impossible missions and questions.

This is the first time a multi-million global franchise like Bond has been tailored for reality TV and contestants will be brought closer to the staggering £9m prize money with each successful mission.

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