Jamie Dornan tipped to be next James Bond after shining in Sir Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast

Odds have been slashed on Jamie Dornan becoming the next James Bond as the actor receives high praise for his roles in Belfast and TV drama The Tourist.

The actor has seen the odds of him being the next 007 fall from 20-1 to 8-1 by leading bookmaker Coral.

The leading contender is Bridgerton star Rege-Jean Page who is the favourite at the moment at odds of 5-2.

Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead said: “Dornan has shown his talent in two very different roles recently in Belfast and The Tourist and we now think he’s a leading contender to be the next James Bond. We’ve significantly cut the odds on the Northern Irishman being the next 007.”

Other stars earmarked by the bookies for the role include previous favourite Tom Hardy at 7-2, James Norton 5-1, 7-1 Richard Madden 7-1, and Jamie Bell 10-1.

Dornan is currently back on the nation’s screens in The Tourist on BBC1 where he plays a car-crash victim who wakes up in hospital with amnesia.

While his recent appearance in Kenneth Brannagh movie Belfast has seen him tipped for an Oscarnomination after getting nods for best supporting actor at the Critics’ Choice and Golden Globes awards.

Dornan, who is perhaps best-known for his role in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy, credits the 2013 TV series “ The Fall,” for changing his career.