Sean Connery is 'best-ever Bond'

Sir Sean Connery has won the title of best-ever James Bond in a magazine poll.

Connery appeared in a total of seven Bond films, starting with Dr No in 1962 and concluding with Never say Never Again in 1983, the unofficial remake of the 1965 film Thunderball.

Pierce Brosnan came second in the poll, followed by Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby.

Readers of sci-fi and movie magazine SFX also judged Connery's 1964 hit Goldfinger as the best film in the Bond series.

SFX editor Dave Bradley said: "Connery is the still the ultimate 007. New Bond Daniel Craig has very tough acts to follow."

The survey was conducted just months before the release of the latest Bond film - Casino Royale, the 21st in the series, is due to be shown on cinema screens on November 17th.

Since the announcement that Craig was to play Bond he has received a dubious welcome. But Sir Sean himself has lent his support to the producers' choice, describing him as a "very, very good actor".

Craig is joined in Casino Royale by Eva Green, who will play the enticing Bond girl Vesper Lynd.