In Sunday night's episode of Happy Valley fans were left reeling by the sudden and violent escape of psychopath Tommy Lee Royce. Viewers were reminded of the chilling events of series one, went Tommy went on the run after holding Ann Gallagher captive and brutally attacking Sergeant Catherine Cawood who came to her rescue, when the evil character bolted from the court while standing trial for murder of Gary Gaggowski on top of his current stretch in jail.
After Tommy, played by James Norton, got rid of his beard and scruffy man-bun, he coolly staged a daring escape from the courthouse as a staged fight broke out. He then dived into a newsagents, ducked into a backroom and re-emerged as a lycra-clad cyclist before making off unnoticed through the centre of Leeds.
After Daniel Craig finished his run as spy James Bond films in 2021, after the release of his fifth 007 movie No Time To Die, James has become one of the favourites to replace him, and his odds on becoming the next Bond have been cut after chilling audiences in the third and final series of the BBC One crime drama created by Sally Wainwright.
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According to bookies Ladbrokes, Norton, 37, was 7/1 but is now 6/1 joint-third favourite with Rege-Jean Page, 34, to play the British spy. Kick Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson and superman actor Henry Cavill are joint favourites at 2/1.
Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and her half brother Michael G Wilson, who control the franchise, previously revealed that the next 007 would be in his thirties and the role would be a “reinvention." Fans reckon James, who played crime-solving vicar Sidney Chambers in the ITV series Grantchester, would be "perfect" for the role.
@Mrs_AhmedZaman tweeted: "I hate Tommy Lee Royce with the fire of a thousand burning suns but James Norton for the next Bond please OMG." And @timofthetown pointed out at the end of the fourth episode (January 22) "@jginorton Nice audition for James Bond there exiting the courtroom."
@sukesbad echoed: "Maybe the court escape was James Norton's audition for James Bond?" And @Homebythesea4 said: "James Norton should be the next James Bond 007."
@_busdevpeep joked: "James Norton is gonna become James Bond and get his head kicked in but Sarah Lancashire in the same year." And @_joeraftery said: "James Norton made a serious case to be James Bond after that final scene."
@danthemansmum pleaded: "James Norton has to be the next Bond, but he’ll need to work on his running style!What an hour of TV, and what a cast." And @spayne128 decided: "After that, I'm definitely sold on James Norton as Bond."
@SSchiavo123 wrote: "Think James Norton was auditoning for James Bond last night with his exciting escape and he looked every inch the movie star after his haircut. Wouldn't have known he was in prison lol."
And @McvaighTracey commented: "I’ve only just found #HappyValley after many recommendations and OMG I cannot stop watching it, it is brilliant. So many great actors and the storyline is gripping. Well done everyone but sad it will come to an end. James Bond next for @jginorton?"
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