AN actor whose first roles involved playing female characters at a North Yorkshire school has suddenly become the hot favourite to become the next James Bond.

War and Peace star James Norton, who naturally speaks with a Yorkshire accent having been raised in Ryedale, is being tipped at 6/4-on by bookmakers to replace Daniel Craig as 007, above actors including Tom Hiddleston and Billingham-born Jamie Bell.

York Press:

James Norton, right, in a 1999 play at Ampleforth School

The development has been so sudden that betting on him has been suspended in some outlets, suggesting the leaking of secret information from one of the world's biggest film franchises.

Staff at Norton’s former school, Ampleforth College, where he is remembered for his acting prowess, said there had been great excitement over the development.

The publicity agent for Norton, and his parents, Lavinia and Hugh, who still live at the early 19th century grade II listed property he grew up in at Barton le Street, near Hovingham, were unavailable for comment.

While the release date of the next Bond film has yet to be released, fans have been quick to back Norton to land the role, citing his good reviews for roles in Happy Valley, Grantchester and Death Comes To Pemberley.

The actor has recently spoken of his school days at Ampleforth College, near Thirsk, where the first character he played was No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, in a school miming competition in 1998.

He said: “It was the first moment I stood before a big audience. I was terrified as I was 11 and I learnt all the words. We had one wig and one skirt to share. Not many people chose to do it.

“I was utterly terrified at first and just stood there demurely tapping my foot. Then everyone began cheering. All of a sudden I started enjoying it, strutting up and down the stage and lapping up the applause.

"I was quite small. It was an all-boys school and the masters and monks in the drama department always used to cast me in the female roles."

After leaving Ampleforth College, Norton undertook work experience at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, in Scarborough, before reading theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

He later travelled around Nepal, where he became interested in Buddhism.