War and Peace’s James Norton is new favourite to be the next James Bond – ahead of Tom Hiddleston
30-year-old actor has passed Tom Hiddleston and Aidan Turner to become frontrunner
WAR and Peace actor James Norton has become the new favourite to be the next James Bond.
The 30-year-old actor is the surprise frontrunner to replace current 007 Daniel Craig - despite the fact he was not on the list at all 48 hours ago.
Bookmakers William Hill are now offering odds of just 1/3 that he will get the gig as the International Man of Mystery, replacing former favourite, Poldark hunk Aidan Turner, who is now second at 7/4.
Previous front runner for the job Tom Hiddleston, 35, is now third with odds of 11/2.
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William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: "48 hrs ago James Norton was NOT even in the betting for who will become the next Bond, he has been backed from 66/1 and is now the current 1/3 favourite.
"We would be astonished if he is not on the shortlist.
"His good looks and public school background make him a perfect fit for Ian Fleming’s 007.”
Other names in the mix to play Bond include Idris Elba, who now has odds of 10/1, former Homeland actor Damian Lewis at 12/1 and Tom Hardy at 16/1.
Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell and Mad Men's Jon Hamm are joined on 20/1 while Luke Evans and Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender are 25/1.
Henry Cavill - who previously got down to the final shortlist for the role - is 33/1 and Rupert Friend rounds out the William Hill shortlist at 40/1.
Current 007 Daniel Craig has been sketchy about whether he will resume his Bond role following the 2015 Spectre movie, but it is widely speculated he will step down after a run of four successful movies.
At one point Tom was favourite for the role after his star turn as spy Jonathan Pine in BBC's The Night Manager, but in recent weeks his chances seem to have waned as his new relationship with American singer Taylor Swift continues to show no signs of slowing down.
After being spotted wearing an I "heart" T.S. vest top while frolicking in the sea with the 26-year-old over the Fourth of July weekend, fans were quick to berate the actor for ruining his credibility.
One Twitter user wrote: "I like scratched that I liked Tom Hiddleston but he blew his chances of getting James Bond by hooking up with Taylor", while another said: "If Tom Hiddleston doesn't get the role of James Bond, I'm blaming the "I <3 Taylor Swift" tank top".
Another commentator wrote: "If you think I will trust a James Bond who dates Taylor Swift, think again #TomHiddleston" with a fellow user putting: "If this fake Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston romance has taught us anything, it's that @idriselba is the only choice to play James Bond".