The new James Bond? Outlander star Sam Heughan on his favourite 007

HE might be one of the bookies’ favourites to be the next 007.

But Outlander star Sam Heughan has left Scots shaken and stirred after revealing his favourite James Bond – and it’s not Sean Connery.

The 38-year-old, who plays Jamie Fraser in the hit historical adventure TV series, has been linked to the role of the iconic spy in the past few weeks. His odds of succeeding Daniel Craig have been slashed in half.

Sam has now said he’d love to play the iconic role, but his inspiration isn’t Sir Sean – the first and, for most Scots, the best – Bond.

“I’ve always wanted to play James Bond. It’s a part of every British actor’s legacy,” he said.

“I loved Timothy Dalton because he was slightly edgy and dark.

“Sean Connery was brilliant. I loved Roger Moore because I liked his eyebrow raising and the slight campness of it.

“But if I had to choose one, probably Timothy Dalton. His The Living Daylights was more edgy.”

Heughan, from Balmaclellan, Dumfries and Galloway, said he’d love to explore Bond’s Scottish roots with a prequel set in his home country.

“I would like to see a young Bond in Scotland. Let’s see the beginning, the origin. Look, Bond is a bit of a dinosaur, isn’t he? Daniel Craig began to get an emotional depth to him and maybe we could go further with that.

“Someone can do the action, and it’s a lot of fun, but he must also have gravitas. He must also have a ‘who is he?’ and ‘why is he who he is?’”

Last year, Luther star Idris Elba said James Bond movie producer Barbara Broccoli should consider a woman to be the next Bond, and Heughan agreed.

“I think it’s possible, but who knows what Eon Productions [the British film company behind Bond] and Barbara want to do with it,” he said. “I’d love to see it. I’d like the part myself but if they are going to cast someone, let’s get a female Bond.”

Heughan’s odds of becoming 007 were last week slashed from 50/1 to 25/1 ahead of the release of The Spy Who Dumped Me, due in cinemas next month, the new action comedy he stars in opposite Mila Kunis.

He’s behind favourite James Norton, star of McMafia and Happy Valley, and Tom Hardy.

Henry Cavill is also in the running, and he revealed last week he’s “ready” for the role.

“I would love to do it, of course,” Cavill said. “I think Bond would be a really fun role. It’s British, it’s cool. I’d love to play a Brit. I don’t get to play a Brit very often. So yes, I would love the opportunity and if they were to ask I would say yes.

“I think that now that I have my Mission: Impossible badge we can do real stunts and really ramp it up as well.”

But last week Sam was backed by Twin Peaks actor Amy Shiels to succeed Daniel Craig. “Obvious choice in my opinion is Sam Heughan,” she tweeted.

Before anyone else lands the role, Daniel Craig is set to reprise it at least one more time. Craig previously said he’d “rather cut his own wrists” than play the character again, but has since confirmed he will return next year.

Trainspotting director Danny Boyle will direct the movie which is due to begin shooting at the end of the year.