Keeley Hawes is backing Richard Madden to be the next James Bond. The actress, who starred with Madden in last year's BBC One hit Bodyguard, said she'd love to see him next in line to take over as 007, when Daniel Craig finally relinquishes the role.

Speaking at a Radio Times party this week, Hawes explained how a shooting number of scenes in the action-packed Bodyguard felt similar to those popularised in Bond movies.

"I said to Richard while we were shooting, 'This is like James Bond!'" she recalled. "I would love to see Richard playing James Bond; I would love that. I think he would be phenomenal."

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Madden recently took home the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, and the National Television Award for Outstanding Drama Performance for his role as David Budd in Jed Mercurio’s Bodyguard.

Mercurio confirmed in September that he was "just beginning" talks to discuss writing a second season, with Madden adding in November that he was looking forward to the possibility of returning to the role

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The Game of Thrones star is one of a handful of names rumoured to be in the running to be the next Bond, alongside Tom Hardy, James Norton, Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba.

Elba, who would be the first black actor to play Bond if cast, recently made light of the rumours by sharing a selfie with Daniel Craig at the Golden Globes, captioning the image: "Awks...".

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Craig will return as the famous spy for the next instalment (working title James Bond 25), which will be the 25th film in the franchise. It will be directed by Cary Fukunaga and is rumoured for release at the end of 2019.

From: Harper's BAZAAR UK