Sexiest man says mum is proud

HE has long been touted as a contender to be the next James Bond. And Idris Elba has certainly shown he has 007’s good looks after being named as 2018’s Sexiest Man Alive.

The actor, 46, (right), says the accolade from People magazine in the US has given him an “ego boost’’.

‘‘I was like: ‘Come on, no way. Really?’’’ he told the magazine. “Looked in the mirror, I checked myself out. I was like: ‘Yeah, you are kind of sexy today.’ But to be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise – an ego boost for sure.’’ He added: “My mum is going to be very, very proud.’’

Previous men to have won the award include former England soccer captain David Beckham, actor and former wrestler Dwayne Johnson and singer Adam Levine.

Elba, star of Luther, The Wire and Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, said he was “honoured” in a Twitter post.

He wrote: “Who’d have thought it! Thank you @people & all the fans for naming me #SexiestManAlive.” Despite his fame, he admitted he was often picked on as a schoolboy. “I was very tall and skinny,” he said. “And my name was Idrissa Akuna Elba. I got picked on a little bit.”