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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ellie Iorizzo, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter & Debra Hunter

No Time to Spy: Rapper rules himself out of race to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond

Rapper Stormzy has ruled himself out as a replacement for Daniel Craig as James Bond, saying he is a "rubbish actor".

The 29-year-old grime star tried out his acting skills as a romantic lead on the video for his single Hide and Seek. But he told chat show host Jonathan Ross that was as far as his ambitions went.

He appeared on Ross's show, to be shown on ITV on Saturday, November 26, alongside actress Kate Hudson, who has just worked with 007 star Craig on the Knives Out sequel. Hudson said of the Bond actor, who has quit the role after five films: "He’s so funny. His physical comedy.

"I was really surprised how comedic he is in his body. He’s quite goofy. I didn’t know Daniel at all and I only know him through his Bond films. He’s so great.”

After Ross teased that Stormzy will portray the next 007, the London-born musician said: “No, no, no, I’d be so s***. ‘Yo, I’m Bond’. It’s not the one. I wish I could.'"

Later, Stormzy, who has just released his third studio album, This Is What I Mean, spoke of filming love scenes for his Hide And Seek video. He said: “Me and the team said it needs to be a high standard actor. I’m a rubbish actor.

“The idea of me going on set with someone that’s awkward and I’m awkward. We got Saffron (Hocking) in and she’s a true professional. She made me really comfortable and led the whole thing.”

Stormzy then asked Hudson: “When I see sex scenes I’m like, ‘How do you lot do that?’ Of course it’s your job but as your average punter, it looks extremely difficult. Can there be arousal, everyone’s thought it!”

Hudson replied: “Interesting question. I think it’s so mechanical and there’s so many people around. Usually they close the set and you kind of have to talk it out and the boys wear belts.”

Stormzy also spoke of his recent trip to see pop megastar Adele perform at her postponed Las Vegas residency, which opened last week at The Colosseum venue at Caesars Palace. He said: “That was amazing. Honestly, probably the best show I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot of shows.

“It’s got all the glitz and glamour like a massive arena show, but it’s in a small place and it’s kind of like, wonderful. Beautiful and spectacular and glamorous. I was like, chef's kiss.

“I’ve always been a big fan. She came to my London show and I was very, very starstruck. Extremely starstruck. I remember I was like, ‘Can I hug you? Oh, can I hug you again?’ I probably asked about three or four times. She’s lovely.”

When asked if he’d like to duet with Adele, he laughed: “Come on man, know what I mean. I wish, I wish…there’s leagues and levels Jonathan. Are you f***ing joking?”

Daniel Craig played Bond for the fifth and final time in last year's No Time To Die (Graham Young / BirminghamLive)

Stormzy also spoke of his recent encounter with Taylor Swift at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), after she won four of the top awards. He shared a selfie on Twitter showing them posing together, captioning the post with a love heart and an emoji face welling up with emotion.

He said: She’s amazing. She was just so lovely.”

The star also spoke about the video for his recent single Mel Made Me Do It, which features a host of famous faces including musicians Little Simz and Dave, sporting stars Usain Bolt and Ian Wright, author Malorie Blackman and football manager Jose Mourinho.

He revealed the star that “got away” was seven-time world F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. “Really wanted Lewis Hamilton, legend. He was right in the middle of the season so that weren’t going to work,” he added.

The Jonathan Ross Show airs at 10.20pm on Saturday, November 26, on ITV1 and ITV Hub.

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