Next James Bond: ‘Audition runners up like Henry Cavill, Sam Heughan bode well’ EXCLUSIVE

Mark said: “Roger Moore was considered for Sean Connery’s Dr No, Timothy Dalton was looked at when he was just 21 in the era of George Lazenby’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and later Diamonds are Forever.

“They looked at everyone for Diamonds are Forever, as they were slightly panicking [after George Lazenby turned down more Bond films after just one outing].”

In the end, Connery was persuaded to return for one more outing before Roger Moore’s debut in Live and Let Die. While fans may remember Pierce Brosnan bagged the role for 1987’s The Living Daylights but was tied to a contract, so Timothy Dalton took over then – until the Goldeneye star had his moment in 1995.

The Bond expert continued: “But yes it does bode well if you’ve been the runner up once, it does help.”