Tom Hiddleston will never don 007's tuxedo, says author Frederick Forsyth

Tom Hiddleston is out of the running to be the next James Bond, according to spy thriller writer Frederick Forsyth.

The Night Manager actor had at one point been bookmakers' favourite to succeed Daniel Craig as 007.

But he has dropped to fourth in the race, behind Poldark's Aidan Turner, American Hustle's Jack Huston and Granchester's James Norton.

Now 77-year-old Forsyth, author of best-selling thriller The Day Of The Jackal, claims that an anonymous source told him there was "no way" Hiddleston would ever be handed the role.

He told the Mail on Sunday: "I got a tip the other day which I'll share with you.

"I understand (Bond producer) Barbara Broccoli is absolutely no way going to pick Tom Hiddleston. No. Way."

The author added that he could never see a female in the role either.

"A Janie Bond? I don't think so. I'm going to be sexist here, I don't think it has the credibility.

"The public are die-stamped with the idea that Wexford is a fella; Morse is a fella; Lewis is a fella.

"There is Vera, but the others...Rosemary and Thyme? I just can't believe them. They simply don't convince."