Samantha `Miss Moneypenny` Bond jumps to the defence of Pierce Brosnan...

Miss Moneypenny actress Samantha Bond has leapt to Pierce Brosnan's defence after newspaper reports claimed a row with producers meant he might not play 007 in the next Bond movie, report Teletext (UK).

The actress doesn't believe there's a real rift between Brosnan and movie chiefs, saying: "I'd be stunned if he was having problems with the producers. They adore him. And I know they're great mates."

Brosnan said recently talks with producers over him appearing in a fifth Bond film had dried up. He also accused them of relying on too many special effects and not enough plot.

Bond regards the speculation is unfair on Brosnan as his mother died recently. She tells Teletext: "He's just lost his mum and there might be other priorities right now. I lost my mother and I know how awful it is."

She hopes Brosnan will agree to go ahead with his fifth and final film, although her time is tight right now. She is filming a new TV series with one-time Dr Who Peter Davison.