Richard Armitage reveals what conversations he’s had with bosses about being next James Bond

There has been much conjecture regarding who the new 007 will be, with names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba being mentioned.

If you were hoping to see Richard as the lead in the next episode of the action picture franchise, you’ll be disappointed.

On The One Show on Thursday night (October 5), the Obsession star said that he hasn’t spoken to Bond head Barbara Broccoli.

‘I mean, there are rumours, we do ask a lot of actors who come on this question because there are rumours about everybody, but this was actually in the papers last week that you are set to be the next Bond,’ host Alex Jones began.

‘Now, we’re not interested in, sort of, chit chat, have you sat down properly with Barbara Broccoli?’, she probed.

As the question was posed, Richard, 52, began smugly chuckling to himself, signalling that he was ready to spill some beans.

Alas, his response was curt.

‘Never,’ he said.

‘Oh,’ a defeated Alex let out.

Richard then joked that he would be a ‘geriatric Bond.’

‘I guess there’s a rumour every week,’ he said.

Richard then stated that it is’very, very wonderful’ to be considered for the coveted job with other A-list celebrities.

‘But I’d be more likely to be a Bond villain at this point in my life, I think,’ he added.

‘I’ll take that,’ Richard smirked.

Richard then chuckled as Alex quipped: ‘I think you’re wrong. I think you might be it.’

Aaron, 33, is the current frontrunner to succeed Daniel, who made his Bond debut in 2006’s Casino Royale, in the next film.

Despite the continuous conjecture, the British actor has stated that he is not paying attention to the claims.

Speaking to Esquire in August, Aaron said he would lose his ‘f***ing mind’ if he didn’t simply pay attention to the job he currently has.

Aaron, who is next set to play the title role in Kraven the Hunter, told the mag: ‘I have to go by the beat of my own drum. It’s my own path, what feels intuitive to me.

‘I’ve never made a decision based on other people’s perspectives, or their judgments, or their expectations. You lose your f***ing mind if you do that. Your sense of worth and soul is gone.

‘You need to understand what is integral to you and what feels right, and you’ve got to stay on track with what’s present in front of you. Kraven is what’s in front of me.’

‘I simply focus on the stuff I can have in my hands right now,’ Aaron said when questioned about taking on the Bond role.

‘What’s in front of me right now.’

His comments came after rumours in December that he was already on set for the action franchise.

He apparently’ wowed’ directors, which occurred after Luther actor Idris alleged his casting was rejected due to “disgust” racism.

So, it appears that we are still no closer to learning who our new 007 will be, but we can’t wait to find out…

The One Show airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.