James Bond odds: Madden & Hardy beaten by OVERWHELMING favourite to replace Daniel Craig

Richard Madden had seemed a safe bet after his starring turns on Game of Thrones and then The Bodyguard. He’s also younger than many of the previous favourites in the field, which is a major consideration after all the delays during the production of Bond 25. There will need to be a reasonable hiatus before a new franchise face is relaunched. It has given another Scottish star time to build a late assault, with a staggering rush of best in the last week convinced he has a licence to thrill. Do people know something we don’t?

One British bookie is reporting that the Scottish hunk has received more than twice the number of bets than all the other contenders combined.

Sam Heughan sprang to fame on Outlander, demonstrating his impressive leading man status in the historical romp.

A representative for Coral told Express Online: “Over 70% of all the bets we have taken on James Bond over the last seven days have been for Sam Heughan.

“He is proving a very popular choice with punters who see the Outlander star as the perfect replacement for Daniel Craig.” 

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Superman star Henry Cavill continues to insist he has not hung up his cape but it is major new Netflix show The Witcher which will beam him into households across the globe and reignite his profile.

The hugely anticipated show launches on December 20. and positions Cavill as an edgier and gritty anti-hero, building on his recently scene-stealing role in Mission Impossible Fallout last year.

Another dark horse is Crazy Rich Asians breakout star Henry Golding, who is currently back in cinemas opposite Emilia Clarke in Last Christmas.

He could be a canny choice at 20-1. 

Although he is most famous for time-travelling drama (and bodice-ripper) Outlander, Heughan has already convincingly played a British secret agent in The Spy Who Dumped Me, opposite Mila Kunis.

Outlander, meanwhile, will certainly keep the Scottish star firmly in the limelight.

There have been eight source novels from author Diana Gabaldon so far.

The immensely popular spin-off TV show is about to launch Season Five, with Season Six already confirmed.

source: express.co.uk