The audition process for James Bond starts long before you somersault into Barbara Broccoli’s office. As Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig have proved, cramming your IMDB page with suave spies and steely hitmen is integral to your chances.

But we’re entering a new era for the franchise and maybe that means we should be looking at different kinds of movies in the hunt for our new 007. Maybe, and we’re just spitballing here, a George Michael-inspired Christmas rom-com, perhaps?

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They should at least consider it. In a new interview with Empire magazine, Last Christmas star Emilia Clarke threw her hat into the ring to play the next Bond, following Daniel Craig’s departure from the role.

Asked whether she’d consider playing the first female Bond, the 33-year-old Game of Thrones actor replied: ‘Yeah! Of course! Hell to the yeah! James Bond is one of those franchises where it’s never not cool.

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‘You could literally make the naffest James Bond in the world and it would still be cool.’

Is she implying that she’d make the 'naffest' Bond film ever? Endearing stuff, but anyone who’s seen Never Say Never Again, Sean Connery's ill-advised return to the fold, knows how tough a challenge that would be.

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Not everybody is keen on the idea of a gender-swapped Bond, but former 007 Pierce Brosnan has thrown his support behind the prospect.

During an interview at Deauville Film Festival, the 66-year-old revealed his excitement for the idea: "Yes! I think we've watched the guys do it for the last 40 years, get out of the way, guys, and put a woman up there.

"I think it would be exhilarating, it would be exciting."

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