James Bond: New 007 race sees James Norton's odds HALVED as star gets mega backing

James Bond fans in their droves are putting their money on James Norton to take over from Daniel Craig as the next 007. The Happy Valley and McMafia star is currently the runaway favourite with Coral halving his odds following a recent flurry of bets. The bookies told Express.co.uk there has been a wave of activity regarding the new Bond, probably due to the amount of publicity around No Time To Die and the unveiling of the theme song at the weekend.

“Many punters believe James Norton is the perfect fit to be the next James Bond as they have been rushing in over the last few days to back the McMafia star to replace Daniel Craig,” Coral’s John Hill said.

“The support behind Norton is the biggest we have seen since we opened betting on the next 007 so you could argue this gamble has left us shaken but not quite stirred just yet!” he added.

Norton was previously priced at a respectable 3-1 to be the next Bond, but the bookies have now slashed his odds almost in half to just 7-4.

He still has competition in the race to replace Craig, however, with Richard Madden hot on his heels, priced at 3-1.

Outlander actor Sam Heughan is third in the betting at 6-1, alongside Avengers star Tom Hiddleston.

Jack Lowden, Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender are priced at 8-1, while Idris Elba and Jamie Bell are priced at 10-1.

Despite being the favourite to get the role, Norton recently skewered rumours he’s already been appointed as the next 007.

After reports a friend of Norton’s had been telling people he had got the job and that an announcement would be put out sometime in the summer, the actor told The Times: “It’s not real.

Also this week, Billie Eilish performed the new Bond theme song live for the first time at the BRIT Awards 2020.

The track, also titled No Time To Die, is the hot favourite to top the charts this week, which would make it only the second Bond theme ever to do so after Spectre’s Writing’s On The Wall by Sam Smith.

Craig will make his final appearance as Bond in the upcoming No Time To Die, his fifth film in the role, 14 years after first being named the Pierce Brosnan’s 007 successor.

The new movie will begin with Bond retired from active service.

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