The author of the new James Bond novel has apologised after he said British actor Idris Elba is “too street” to play 007.

Anthony Horowitz, who wrote the new novel Trigger Mortis, told the Daily Mail the Luther star – who has been rumoured to be among the actors considered to replace Daniel Craig as the next Secret Service agent – would not be suitable for the role of Bond.

He has since posted an apology on Twitter.

The 60-year-old novelist was quoted saying: “It’s not a colour issue … Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”

Anthony said he was thinking of Idris’s gritty role in the BBC crime drama Luther, and did not mean to cause offence. He said he believed another black actor, Adrian Lester, would be a better choice.

Anthony Horowitz
Anthony Horowitz (Ian West/PA)

He said he believed another black actor, Adrian Lester, would be a better choice.

Adrian Lester
Adrian Lester (Anthony Devlin/PA)

But fans disagreed – and were quick to express their views on Twitter.