Idris Elba early pace setter in next James Bond race

Idriss Elba heads the betting to replace Daniel Craig as the new James Bond when the current occupant steps away from the role.

At 5/1, former Luther and The Wire star Elba sneaks into next-Bond favouritism ahead of 6/1-rated Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy, who is a 7/1 shot.

However, with no retirement date on the horizon for Craig, who has said he is willing to occupy the position until the producers of the James Bond series tell him otherwise, there is still plenty that could alter this market.

Elba’s rise to the head of the betting comes off the back of Ladbrokes receiving a number of requests from London-based punters for the 40-year-old to be the next man behind the wheel of the Aston Martin.

Still, despite there being a lot of details subject to change, it appears a certainty that the next Bond will be of English origin.

Aside from Fassbender, Mad Men star Jon Hamm is the only other individual born outside of Blighty in the reckoning; he weighs in with a clutch of stars who can be backed at 12s. Damian Lewis and Dominic West, another from the esteemed cast of The Wire, are the other two who can be found in this region of the market, while Australian national with an English birthplace, Sam Worthington, is a 10/1 shout.

Of all of these in the betting’s midfield, Hamm is the only one boasting the all-star credentials that qualify him to fill Bond’s fancy shoes, though Hardy offers the best opposition to the favourite.

Boasting a CV laden with plenty of high-octane action films of the 007-ilk, Hardy seems a natural for the role and, of all the likely lads, he is the best value for money bet.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date