Bookie suspends new James Bond betting after big Hiddleston gamble

A bookie has suspended betting on the next James Bond after a large bet was placed on The Night Manager star Tom Hiddleston.

Thanks to a flurry of bets at Coral, the British actor became the 2-1 favourite to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.

But after a large single bet, the odds plummeted to 1-2 and Coral suspended betting.

The suspension comes after Hiddleston was reportedly seen with Bond director Sam Mendes.

Spokeswoman for Coral Nicola McGeady said: "There is no smoke without fire, and following the big gamble on Tom Hiddleston in the last 24 hours, we've had no choice but to pull the plug on the market.

"Earlier in the year there was a gamble on Idris Elba and Damian Lewis, but nothing has come close to the recent gamble on Hiddleston."

Elba was priced at 9-1 and Lewis at 14-1 before betting was suspended.

Other potential James Bond's in the running include Poldark actor Aidan Turner, and Mad Max star Tom Hardy.