Madden has odds cut to be next James Bond

Richard Madden has seen his odds cut to be the next James Bond after his starring role in the BBC thriller Bodyguard.

The Game Of Thrones star has been backed to take on the role of the spy with the licence to kill after his performance as Sergeant David Budd in the hit drama.

Bookmakers Coral have cut Madden’s odds to 4-1 from 8-1 to be the next Bond following the final episode of the series on Sunday night.

John Hill, a spokesman for Coral, said: “Punters can’t get enough of Richard Madden at the moment.

“After an impressive performance as the lead actor in Bodyguard, we are being knocked over with interest in him becoming the next 007 where he looks a perfect fit.”

Keeley Hawes, who played Home Secretary Julia Montague in the series, is also tipped for a role in the franchise, with odds of 3-1.

However, the recent announcement that True Detective director Cary Joji Fukunaga will helm the next Bond film have given Idris Elba an edge over Madden, William Hill said.

The filmmaker and the British actor have previously worked together on the film Beasts Of No Nation. Madden currently has odds of 20/1, while Elba has 7/2.