McGregor bookies fave for new Bond

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is reportedly the top bookmakers tip to replace Pierce Brosnan as the next 007.

14:27 13 November 2004

Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is reportedly the top bookmakers tip to replace Pierce Brosnan as the next 007.

William Hill has set odds of 9/4 for McGregor, with fellow Scots star Dougray Scott a close second favourite to play James Bond at 9/2.

McGregor, star of the new Star Wars films, and Scott, who has appeared in Enigma and Mission Impossible II, are being tipped to play the suave secret agent after producers decided to drop Brosnan from the role after nine years and four movies.

Brosnan recently said he was "gutted" when the film's producers dropped him and has been recommending fellow Irish actor Colin Farrell for the part. However, Farrell has made it clear he is not interested in playing Bond.

Brit actor Jude Law had been tipped as the next Bond but has fallen out of favour following disappointing box office figures for his latest ventures Alfie and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

"The public love a Scot," said Rupert Adams, a spokesman for William Hill. "We have heard that Ewan McGregor has definitely been contacted or had a screen test whereas a lot of the other names are purely speculation."

"In the past Connery has come top in people's favourite Bond and that can only help the chances of Ewan McGregor and Dougray Scott," he added.

Other contenders for the coveted role include: Clive Owen at 6-1; Hugh Jackman and Colin Farrell at 7-1; Ioan Gruffudd at 8-1; Eric Bana at 9-1, Orlando Bloom and Chris Feeney at 10-1; Rupert Everett and Hugh Grant at 20-1; Russell Crowe at 25-1, and Robbie Williams and Eminem at 100-1.

Punters who fancy a long shot can get odds of 500-1 on Tory MP and Spectator editor Boris Johnson.