international news

international news

Idris Elba believes the world isn't ready for the first black James Bond. The London-born actor has been heavily linked to the coveted role currently played by Daniel Craig but although he is interested in playing 007, he doesn't think cinema goers around the world want to see a black man play the character.

Speaking on UK station BBC Radio 2, he said: "I think in England we have reached that stage [of having a black James Bond] because culturally we're sort of a lot more diverse, but the rest of the world is not like that, and I think there is a real sort of stigma. It's like, 'Oh he's black, can he do it because he's black?' "

Idris, 45, also rejected claims that people would be more accommodating to the change because of recent historical moments such as Barack Obama becoming America's first black president.

He explained: "Obama can be president because he's a very smart man, and I'm sure he had the same feelings like, 'well I'm not the first black president, I'm Obama. I'm the first Obama. So, for me, you know I don't like to make a big deal of it. The point is that it's a great rumour, if it was to ever happen I think it would be the will of a nation."

Idris is adamant he has not had any official conversation about taking on the role after Craig, 50, makes his final appearance in Bond 25, but he would definitely consider it if he did get an offer.

Snoop Dogg has vowed to get people's kitchens "blazin" with his first cannabis-free cookbook.

The Drop It Like It's Hot hitmaker only started learning to cook professionally in May, after spending time with his 'Martha and Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party' co-host Martha Stewart, 77, but he's now put together his favourite recipes for the time, entitled Crook to Cook.

He said: "You know it's blazin' up in my kitchen. I'm takin' the cookbook game higher with a dipped and whipped collection of my favourite recipes, ya dig?"

Among the mouth-watering dishes are baked macaroni cheese, fried chicken and waffles, and tantalising black ribs.

Highlights include the foods he craves when he's high, and the 46-year-old rapper's very own gin and juice ingredients, a reference to his 1993 hit Gin And Juice.

Just three months ago, the California Roll rapper revealed he was learning how to cook like a pro with Martha.

He said: "She taught me how to be a real Iron Chef in the kitchen! She's very particular with how you set up the food on the plate, like, I'll usually just rush through it, but she's teaching me how to be more calculated, like a real professional. I'm in the process."