ODDS have been slashed for Bournemouth-born and Dorset raised actor Ben Hardy to become the next James Bond.

According to bookmakers William Hill, the James Bond market has seen significant changes over the last week as fan anticipation grows, and the Eastenders and Bohemian Rhapsody star Hardy is now a likely contender.

Born in Bournemouth in 1991, Ben Hardy grew up in Sherborne and attended Sherborne Abbey Primary School and the Gryphon School. As a student at Gryphon, he found a love for acting after starring in a school film adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd.

He gained his big break in 2013 when it was announced he would join the cast of Eastenders as Peter Beale. He has since gone on to receive acclaim for his roles in successful films like X-Men: Apocalypse and in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody – where he played Queen drummer Roger Taylor.

Following Daniel Craig’s departure from the James Bond series, William Hill prices Hardy at 25-1 to don the famous tuxedo next.

Speaking on the odds, a William Hill spokesperson said: “Although he may be lesser-known than some of the other names in the market, Ben Hardy is a good fit for the role, as he’s shown some serious diversity when switching between soaps and blockbuster films.”

The current frontrunner in the market is Man of Steel and The Witcher star Henry Cavill, who has seen his odds cut to 2-1 in the last week, followed by Bridgerton heartthrob Rege-Jean Page (11-4), and Luther legend Idris Elba (9-2).