Bond 25: Fans deem Tom Hiddleston's The Night Manager role a brilliant 'James Bond audition'

"Tom Hiddleston is excellently excellent at being Britishly British & handsomely handsome."

The race to become the next James Bond is heating up; particularly in the light of swelling rumours current star Daniel Craig is determined for Spectre to have been his last outing. Though Ladbrokes seem certain Tom Hardy's their man, the public has their eyes set elsewhere.

The casting pool of public opinion is officially opened. And, following Aidan Turner's entry into the race after his role in the BBC's And Then There Were None, it's the BBC once more which provides platform for potential auditionees. Indeed, the internet has declared Tom Hiddleston's suave performance in the channel's new spy drama, The Night Manager, as the perfect show of what his Bond would be capable of.

Adapted from the John le Carré novel, Hiddleston plays Jonathan Pine, recruited by Olivia Colman's Burr as an intelligence operative. His mission? To infiltrate the inner circle of arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper (Hugh Laurie), his girlfriend Jed (Elizabeth Debicki), and compatriot Corcoran (Tom Hollander).

The Night Manager airs Sunday at 9pm, BBC One.