And it is relevant to be clear that the next time around, James Bond will still be male. Producer Barbara Broccoli has been adamant that no women will be considered: “James Bond is a male character. I hope that there will be many, many films made with women, for women, by women, about women. I don’t think we have to take a male character and have a woman portray him. So yes, I see him as male.” Many of the UK and Ireland’s finest actors have been in the mix to replace Daniel Craig and, for a long time, Hardy was a clear favourite. The actor has famously said he superstitiously believes it is better not to discuss his hopes of being the next 007 in case it jeopardises his chances. Cavill has no such reservations and has been very open about his desires to step into that iconic Aston Martin, which have just been given a huge boost. 

Cavill also came nail-bitingly close once before, when he was down to the last two with Daniel Craig but even he would probably admit he was a little too young at 22, at the time. The Superman star turned 39 earlier this month – the perfect vintage for the suavest of super-spies.

And he has more than age on his side, after recent comments from the Bond producers. No wonder his odds with UK bookies are soaring.

UK bookies Ladbrokes have increased Cavill’s chances yet again, and exclusively told Express online that he has been the most popular pick with punters in terms of bets placed this entire month.

Broccoli previously explained that the actor they choose will be dictated by the tone the films in the rebooted franchise will take: “Are they going to be more humorous or less humorous, more gritty or not gritty? And then, when we’ve done that, we have to figure out the actor to play it. So, no, it’s not just ‘Oh, who looks good in a suit?’ We have to figure this out on our own.”

Cavill has displayed a flair for light comedy in the likes of Netflix’s Enola Holmes as Sherlock, and in The Man From UNCLE. There is even a dry black humour to his Geralt of Rivera in The Witcher.

Over the past weeks, the momentum is behind him as his odds continue to improve and he is now neck and neck with Bridgerton Rege-Jean page. Read the latest odds next:

Ladbrokes currently have Page ahead by a whisker on 5/2, with Cavill breathing hard down his neck on 3/1.

After the top two there is a large gap before the following pack is arrayed in close competition, led by Aidan Turner on 8/1.

James Norton and Michael Fassbender join Hardy even further back on 10/1, followed by Cillian Murphy, Idris Elba and Cillian Murphy on 12/1.