James Bond is ready for a shake-up after Daniel Craig’s departure but it’s still unknown who will be taking his place and donning the iconic tuxedo. For months now, a number of high profile (and lesser-known) British actors have been battling it out in the running with bookies. In the past week, however, a former frontrunner has surged back into the race.

It’s been a big week for Sam Heughan in terms of the betting on the next Bond, with a flurry of bets prompting Ladbrokes to cut odds on him yet again.

Last week, the Outlander star was priced at 8/1 to succeed Craig as the new Bond, but those odds were shortened to 6/1 in recent days.

Now, his odds have been slashed again, putting him third in the running on 4/1.

James Norton is still the favourite to take over as the next 007, priced at 2/1, while Richard Madden is in second place at 3/1.

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Since then, he has been cryptic about his chances, telling Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show: “I can reveal right not that I…. am not James Bond.

“I’ve never heard,” he revealed.”I’m waiting for the call.

“I haven’t been told I’m not!” the Scot quipped.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain in January, he said whether or not he was the next Bond “depends on how much whisky I’ve drunk”.

“It’s not a no…” he teased.

Craig will bow out as Bond in No Time To Die, which will see the character retired from active service before being roped back in for one last mission.

The former agent will be leading a quiet life in Jamaica when it’s disrupted by a visit from his old friend and CIA agent Felix Letter (played by Jeffrey Wright).

Leiter asks for Bond’s help rescuing a kidnapped scientist, a mission which leads him on the trail of a mysterious villain who’s armed with a dangerous new technology.

No Time To Die is released in UK cinemas November 12.