This City is Ours star James Nelson-Joyce addresses James Bond rumours on new Mail football podcast
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Actor James Nelson-Joyce said ‘he’d love to be’ the first scouse James Bond on a new Mail football podcast.
Speaking to Whistleblowers, hosted by broadcaster Gordon Smart, former referee Mark Clattenburg, and Mail Football Editor Ian Ladyman, Nelson-Joyce, 36, described himself as ‘not one of those cool actors’ who deny wanting the legendary role.
Daniel Craig stepped down as James Bond after five films, with his final appearance in the role being 2021’s No Time to Die.
Amazon has since acquired the rights to make the next Bond film, with various young British actors rumoured to be in talks to take over from Craig.
‘Anyone would want to play James Bond’, James told the new podcast.
‘I am not one of these cool actors who say: ‘Ooh I don’t know.’ I would love to do it. With James Bond though, there’s a lot more that comes into it. It’s that next, next level.
James, from Liverpool, is known for playing villainous characters in popular television shows like The Nest and Time.
He recently starred in a new crime drama, This City Is Ours, which follows a power struggle among crime families in Liverpool.
Actor James Nelson-Joyce said ‘he’d love to be’ the first scouse James Bond on a new Mail football podcast
Daniel Craig stepped down as James Bond after five films, with his final appearance in the role being 2021’s No Time to Die
James appeared alongside Stephen Graham in the series and recently credited his co-star, also from Liverpool, for kickstarting his career.
The proud scouser has emerged as a surprise contender to take over the Bond role after the runaway success of the BBC show.
Co-host Gordon Smart asked the actor whether he would bring a ‘Merseyside twang’ to the part.
‘That’s exactly what I would do, yeah’, James replied.
He jokingly performed some of Bond’s classic lines in a thick Liverpudlian accent on the Mail podcast.
The bookies give James a 6/1 chance to star in the next Bond film, speculated to release in 2026.
James revealed that his dream role would be to play Manchester United icon George Best in a biopic of his life.
The proud scouser has emerged as a surprise contender to take over the Bond role after the runaway success of the BBC show The City is Ours
Nelson-Joyce appeared alongside Stephen Graham in the series and recently credited his co-star, also from Liverpool, for kickstarting his career
Asked why, James said: ‘I am football mad – and he was an amazing player. But he was also a legend off the pitch, probably the first celebrity footballer.
‘He was this loner character, Miss Worlds throwing themselves at him. Everyone wanted to have a beer with him – but nobody really cared about him.
‘There’s an incredible story somewhere in there – if you found the right writer.’
Whistleblowers is a brand-new football podcast, brought to you by The Mail in association with Wickes TradePro.
From what really goes on in the referee’s room, to how clubs spin crises and who’s pulling the strings behind the scenes – Whistleblowers brings the inside stories only those at the heart of the game can tell.
Search Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Thursday.
