007 star Daniel Craig 'needs fresh challenges', says former Bond girl

Daniel Craig is walking away from a big payday to stay on as James Bond because it is time to find fresh challenges, according to a former Bond girl.

Caterina Murino, 38, played Solange alongside Craig in his first outing as 007 in Casino Royale.

She told the Sunday People: "It's hugely stressful being Bond. There's a lot of money involved, so that also brought more tension - and a lot of that tension was on Daniel...

"It's not easy to go back time and time again. It can be tiring to keep trying to find new things in the same role."

Actors including Tom Hiddleston and Aidan Turner are among the bookies' tips to replace Craig when he leaves the role.

Craig, 48, has starred as Bond in four films since he first took on the role 10 years ago.