THE decades-long wait for the first Scottish James Bond since Sean Connery could soon be over, with one Scots actor surging into the lead in the race to become the next 007.
Slow Horses star Jack Lowden has overtaken long-time favourite Callum Turner in the betting market, according to new figures from Oddschecker.
Turner had led the betting market for much of 2026, but Lowden has increasingly been touted for the coveted role, prompting his odds to be slashed from 8/1 to 7/4.
The Borders-born actor has also attracted 43% of all bets placed on the next Bond over the past seven days.
Speculation around Lowden intensified after TV presenter and author Richard Osman claimed he had heard the Scot was being "strongly considered" for the role.
If selected, Lowden would become the first Scottish actor to play Bond since the legendary Sean Connery.
Lowden grew up in the village of Oxton in the Scottish Borders and has previously been outspoken in his support for Scottish independence, including sharing images from The National's 2019 Yes rally in George Square.
The 36-year-old began acting at a young age, enrolling with the Scottish Youth Theatre in Edinburgh aged 10 before going on to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in 2011.
His breakthrough on the international stage came in 2017 when he played RAF fighter pilot Collins in Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning Second World War blockbuster Dunkirk.
He has since become best known for playing River Cartwright alongside Gary Oldman in the acclaimed spy series Slow Horses.
Speculation over who will inherit the 007 mantle has continued since Daniel Craig's final appearance as Bond in 2021's No Time to Die.
Lowden now sits at the head of the latest Oddschecker figures, ahead of Turner and a string of other actors linked with the role.
The latest odds are:
- Jack Lowden – 7/4: 36% implied probability; 43% of bets over the past seven days
- Callum Turner – 3/1: 25% implied probability; 19% of bets
- Tom Francis – 7/1: 13% implied probability; 1% of bets
- Jack O'Connell – 10/1: 9% implied probability; 4% of bets
- Donal Finn – 10/1: 9% implied probability; 1% of bets
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 10/1: 9% implied probability; 3% of bets
It is understood that the new James Bond will be revealed before the end of this year.
