Heat is on for Outlander star Sam Heughan to swap his Scottish kilt for James Bond’s tuxedo

Sam Heughan has won a legion of female fans from his role in Outlander, and he is one of many stars who could be the next 007.

As dreamy laird Jamie Fraser in the sweeping drama, Outlander, Scottish heart throb, Sam Heughan has already won himself a legion of female fans.

Should he pull on the tailored tuxedo, fitted for the role of 007 agent, James Bond, his appeal would explode at the speed of the spy’s tricked up Aston Martin.

UK bookmakers have the star at short odds to win the prized part, after Daniel Craig signs off with the November release of No Time To Die.

Adding to the speculation, Heughan has confirmed he auditioned back in 2005 when Craig first complained the spy franchise was proving burdensome.

Since then Heughan has batted away rumours and figured in endless polls, pitting him against a swath of leading men – and even, most recently, a woman.

Ask the coy Scot of his interest in the career-making casting and he tells The BINGE Guide, “Who wouldn’t want to be 007? I haven’t been asked but I think it would be nice to have a Scottish James Bond again, whoever plays him next.”

Dream laird … Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in a scene from Foxtel series, Outlander. Picture: Foxtel

The decision will come down to producers, Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother, Michael G. Wilson, who inherited the franchise and see the casting quest as a privilege.

Broccoli is open to taking Bond forward, but a gender swap may be a leap too far.

“He can be of any colour, but he is male,” Broccoli told Variety. “I believe we should be creating new characters for women — strong female characters. I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”

In the meantime, Heughan will continue building his screen experience in a sixth season of Outlander, with filming pushed back while the UK take control of its coronavirus crisis.

The actor says the quarantine restrictions had been unexpected but a bonus chance to breath.

“It has honestly been an interesting time for me. The solitude and the downtime has suddenly given me time to reflect,” he says, adding, “I’m going to try and find more time like this where I can have time for myself, time to work on myself rather than just keep going and keep working.”

Before he braces to Bond, he says his Outlander character would cope well with the confrontation of COVID-19.

Change … could Idris Elba become the next James Bond? Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

“I think he would survive very well – certainly if he was in the woods or something. He’s a man of the land and has quite many skills so he could survive. However, he’s a social man too so he’d find that part tough.”

Heughan brings a natural sense of his heritage that would suit the 007 role, given its 58-year history.

“I love history. I’m surrounded by it all the time, certainly in Scotland. It’s a real part of our culture. You just can’t escape the castles, the landscape and the great battles that have been held there. You’re pretty much walking among ghosts, especially in the big cities like Edinburgh.”

And just like 007 needs his Bond girls, Heughan is quick to credit his Outlander co-star Catriona Balfe for making him better.

“She’s always led from the front. She’s intellectual, extremely intelligent and very giving and caring. I’m lucky we clicked from the start and were able to trust each other and have each other’s back. There’s always a weird time when we go away from shooting Outlander but we are always in contact. She will call me and I will text her but that first day back at work is almost like we are slightly shy of each other. Then we fall back into our routine, we laugh a lot, we talk rubbish and we’re very childish. I couldn’t be more thankful for such a great co-star.”

* Outlander, streaming Foxtel on Demand.

A TIME TO THRILL? WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT BOND:

IDRIS ELBA

HANDSOME, charming and brings women weak at the knees, not to mention acting talent to burn, Idris Elba has been touted as the next Bond by everyone from studio bosses to Chris Hemsworth. But the racial debate sparked by the rumours has upset Elba, putting him off the role: “if I get it and it didn’t work, or it did work, would it be because of the colour of my skin? That’s a difficult position to put myself into when I don’t need to.”

RICHARD MADDEN

HE showed his hero status in Game of Thrones and Bodyguard, but Richard Madden has emerged a late contender to take over from Daniel Craig when he finally hands in the keys to his Aston Martin. Before then, he’ll get his start as a spy, in a new international thriller, co-starring Priyanka Chopra and helmed by Marvel directors, the Russo brothers.

Leading man … Richard Madden played the tough guy in The Bodyguard, with Keeley Hawes. Picture: Supplied

JAMES NORTON

THE swoon-worthy star of Granchester recently topped a Radio Times poll for the role of 007, impressing with his latest role in crime drama, McMafia where the Yorkshire-born star showed off his ability to blow up the bad guys and swig martinis. He has been quick to quash the rumours telling UK press it was “speculation … very flattering, very humbling speculation.’

Flattered … actor James Norton, star of Mr Jones, has been humbled by talk linking him to play 007. Picture: Robert Palka

ALEX O’LOUGHLIN

AUSTRALIA could have its own man in the race, with Hawaii Five-O star Alex O’Loughlin handing in his badge as Steve McGarrett, when the rebooted series signed off in April after eight seasons. The Canberra-born actor was previously considered to play Bond, back in 2005, screen-testing for the role and even fitted for the spy’s famed tuxedo.

Aussie hunk … Hawaii Five-O’s Alex O'Loughlin was fitted for Bond’s tuxedo and screen-tested for the role. Picture: Supplied.

LASHANA LYNCH

WITH Fleabag writer, director and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge penning the next 007 film, she’s already confirmed Lashana Lynch will be introduced to audiences as agent 007. Whether it’s a plot trick, in this #MeToo era, it would certainly be one way to shake up the franchise and stir up a gender debate.

Gender debate … Lashana Lynch has been cast as Agent 007 in the next Bond film. Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP