Daniel Craig calls for end of black Bond debate

Daniel Craig has called for an end to the debate over whether a black actor should be next to play James Bond.

The British star has long been rumoured to be stepping down from the franchise after one final turn as 007 in upcoming movie Spectre.

Speculation over who will replace him has focused on another Brit, Idris Elba.

If Elba was given the part, it would make him the first black star to play Bond.

However, Craig is adamant skin colour should be irrelevant in the casting process.

"The right person for the job should do the job, and I don't give a f*** what colour their skin is," he tells Britain's Culture magazine.

"It shouldn't be an issue. We should have moved on."

Craig recently moved to end gossip about whether Spectre will be his final outing as Bond, hinting his fifth 007 movie will be his last.

"I'll keep going as long as I'm physically able," he told Britain's Event magazine.

"I'm contracted for one more - but I'm not going to make predictions."

The actor first stepped into 007's shoes for 2006 movie Casino Royale, and his fourth outing as the secret agent in Sam Mendes' Spectre is due to hit cinemas next month.

- WENN