Tom Hiddleston expects Daniel Craig to carry on playing James Bond.

Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston

The 'Crimson Peak' actor is one of the hot favourites to take over from the 48-year-old star - who has played the role for the past four films, but is widely rumoured to be quitting the part - and while Tom would love to play the suave spy, he doesn't envisage that happening anytime soon.

He said: "I'm a huge fan. And I still am. James Bond is a British cultural icon and I think it continues to be. Daniel Craig has been one of the very best and I bet he does more."

Tom admits he is "flattered" to have even been linked with the part and would love to emulate the likes of Sir Sean Connery and Sir Roger Moore by portraying 007 one day.

Speaking to E!, he added: "It's one of those things, I feel like as a British actor everyone loves to have those conversations of, 'Who is going to be the next Bond?'

"I don't know honestly if I have a shot, but it's flattering that some people think I do.

"I'm a huge fan of the series. When I was a child, about five years old, I remember very clearly on the BBC they used to play re-runs of the Connery and Roger Moore Bonds every Saturday night.

"It was a thrill that my parents let me stay up past my bed time to watch it. God forbid you get back to school on Monday and you didn't because that's all people would be talking about in the playground."

British bookmaker William Hill - which prices Tom as 9/4 second favourite to play the Secret Service agent next, behind 2/1 favourite Tom Hardy - has suspended betting on Daniel not doing another Bond film after 'Skyfall' and 'Spectre' director Sam Mendes hinted the latter film may be the star's last as 007.

He said: "It did feel to me like Daniel was saying goodbye to Bond at the end.

"But there's clearly a way he can easily come back. Bond isn't dead! So that's clearly Daniel's call."

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