Next James Bond: Jodie Comer and Michelle Keegan battle it out for 007 role | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

Killing Eve star Jodie Comer and Fool Me Once actress Michelle Keegan are in the front running to become the next Bond Girl, according to the bookies.

The female lead in James Bond films has been a coveted role in British cinema for decades and fans as eager to know who will be following in the footsteps of Gemma Arterton, Halle Berry and Britt Ekland.

Gambling.com betting expert, James Leyfield, has opened up about Jodie becoming the favourite to land the iconic role.

He said: “Jodie Comer is the 6/4 favourite on specials betting sites to be the next female lead in a Bond movie.

“The actress has had the perfect training ground in the hit BBC spy thriller Killing Eve, for which she landed a Primetime Emmy Award for her superb portrayal of sociopathic assassin Villanelle.”

He added: “She could be an ideal Bond Girl, but could be just as effective as the main villain in the next Bond movie.”

However, former Coronation Street star Michelle is becoming a megastar following her success in the Harlan Coben Netflix series Fool Me Once.

The drama is about a grieving mother – called Maya Stren – who goes on a mission to investigate her husband’s death after he appears on a nannycam following his own funeral.

James shared: “Michelle, who is 5/2 to be the next Bond Girl, started out in soaps, starring as barmaid Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street for six years.

“That means she already knows how to perfect a martini – shaken, not stirred – but more than that, she could be an ideal MI6 colleague for Bond.”

Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor and Marisa Abela, who is playing Amy Winehouse in the biopic about the late soul singer, are also in the running to be the next Bond Girl at 4/1 on betting apps.

There is currently no release date for the next Bond film, and it is rumoured that it will not hit cinemas until at least 2025.

Actors Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are two possible actors the bookies believe will replace Daniel Craig as 007 himself.

Daniel, who had huge hits like Casino Royale and Skyfall, has played the leading role for the past 15 years.