Is Colin the hip-hop 007?

Actor Colin Salmon has said that he should be the first "hip-hop" black James Bond as he emerged as the hot favourite to take over the role.

The 42-year-old star of Prime Suspect and Resident Evil says the hard-living spy fits perfectly with modern rap and hiphop-culture. "Cut to 2004 - what culture has that James Bond alter-ego?" he says. "A misogynistic, fast car driving, womanising thing. It is hip hop."

Ladbrokes has been forced to stop taking bets after he wrote 007 on a fan's autograph and they were inundated with a string of big punts.

Current Bond Pierece Brosnan has tipped Salmon as the perfect successor.

Salmon says: "The reason Pierce says that is because he has seen my screen tests and he knows I would eat it up."