A BOOKMAKER has named its top Lancashire contenders to play the next James Bond after an iconic Aston Martin was spotted in the county.
The recent flurry of William Hill market additions come after a sighting of the Aston Martin, which turned heads when driving through Edgworth, East Lancashire.
The car - dubbed the ‘most famous car in the world’ - had a personalised ‘007’ number plate, sparking talk Bond may have been on a mission in the sleepy village.
Coming in with the most favourable odds for Lancashire is Burnley-born actor Lucien Laviscount, priced at 50-1.
The 29-year-old actor recently rose to fame for his role as British banker Alfie in the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris, where he plays the title character’s charming love interest.
Also at 50-1 is Craig Parkinson, best known for his roles as DI ‘Dot’ Cottan in Line of Duty and Shaun in Misfits.
The Blackpool-born actor has previously backed Line of Duty co-star Martin Compton to play 007. However, with sightings of the iconic motor around his neck of the woods, this could be Parkinson’s chance to redeem ‘Dot’ Cottan’s corruption from AC12.
Another Lancashire star in the running to assume a licence to kill is Sarah Lancashire, tipped 150-1.
Famous for representing the north with shows like Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, Lancashire has now cracked the US, starring as chef Julia Child in HBO series Julia.
With bigger productions and previous police roles under her belt, perhaps 007 is Lancashire’s next step.
The region’s final pick for Bond is Steve Coogan, tipped 200-1.
Although best known for playing Norwich radio host Alan Partridge, Coogan has shown his chameleon qualities especially in BBC series The Trip with an excellent impression on former Bond Roger Moore.
The frontrunners in the James Bond market currently stand as long standing favourite Regé-Jean Page (5-2), followed by Henry Cavill (7-2) and Michael Fassbender (5-1).
The next James Bond is still yet to be announced following Daniel Craig's final outing as the super-spy in No Time to Die.
Lashana Lynch became the new 007 in the latest film, taking over the codename following Bond's retirement from MI6; it's unclear whether her 'Nomi' character will become the new lead or if a new Bond will be introduced.
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