New Bond announcement is imminent: Aidan Turner overtakes Tom Hiddleston as favourite
AIDAN TURNER has overtaken Tom Hiddleston as the bookies favourite to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond 007.
Aidan Turner is the new favourite to replace Daniel Craig
The Poldark star is currently odds on at 2/5, with Hiddleston having been pushed back to 15/8.
Just behind them are other favourites, Tom Hardy and Idris Elba at 16/1, with Michael Fassbender and Damian Lewis further back at 33/1.
Bookmaker William Hill claim that an announcement of a new Bond is likely to happen within the next two weeks.
The Bookies spokesman Joe Crilly went on to explain the new turn for Turner…
Turner grabbed the public's attention after starring in the BBC's And Then There Were None
He said: “The Betting suggest that next Bond is down to a shortlist of two – Aidan Turner has come in steadily since the first episode of Poldark to the point where he now finds himself as the favourite.
“However, the big betting boys seem to think the role is already Hiddleston’s with one shop punter requesting £30,000.
“We have seen the favourite change more times than Bond’s love interests and it would be no surprise to see another name at the head of the betting in the next couple of days.”
Ladbrokes Spokesman Jessica Bridge added why her bookmakers had slashed Turner’s odds as well, with the actor coming in at 1-2.
She said: “Money talks, and it's the Poldark man that punters want as their next Bond.
“Turner's been shaking and stirring the betting for the last week and it's not a huge surprise to see he's been backed into odds-on.”
Aidan Turner riding a horse in Poldark
The news of Turner overtaking Hiddleston as the favourite came as a shock to Bond fans.
Both the Loki actor and Jamie Bell have had talks with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, while the 32-year-old Turner is yet to give his pitch.
Despite Bell’s chat, his odds are still quite low at 33/1 with Ladbrokes.
Tom Hiddleston was the favourite after a £30000 bet, but his odds have since been slashed
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Sam Mendes, who directed Craig in Skyfall and Spectre, recently explained that it all comes down to Broccoli in the decision.
He said: “It’s not a democracy, it’s not the X Factor, it’s not the EU referendum, it’s not a public vote.
“Barbara Broccoli chooses who’s going to be the next Bond: end of story. Without that, there would be no Daniel Craig because public support for Daniel was zero.”
With his words in mind, perhaps Broccoli will choose another relatively unknown British actor.
After all, before he was cast, Craig was just “that guy from Layer Cake.”