James Bond: Outlander star Sam Heughan OVERTAKES Tom Hardy in race for 007

“Forget Sean Connery, it’s more like From Balmaclellan With Love as Sam Heughan’s chances of becoming the next James Bond just shortened massively,” a Paddy Power spokesperson told Express.co.uk.

“He was as large as 75-1 with us this morning, but due to a large, sustained period of bets we’ve had to cut him into 8-1 – putting him amongst the favourites now.”

Heughan, who is best known as Jamie Fraser in Outlander, has previously revealed he would love the chance to bring Bond back to Scotland.

“I think any actor who says they wouldn’t [want to play Bond] would be lying,” he told STV earlier this year. “I think it’s about time we had a Scottish Bond again.