Ladbrokes spokesman Alex Apati told Express.co.uk: “Punters are rushing to back Sam Heughan in the Bond betting and it won’t be long before he leapfrogs James Norton into favourite spot at this rate.”

Heughan previously revealed his desire to snag the role of Bond in an interview with STV last year.

“I think any actor who says the wouldn’t [want to play 007] would be lying,” he said. “And I think it’s time we have a Scottish Bond again.”

In recent months, the star said he hadn’t been given the job but joked he hadn’t yet been told no.