The 37-year-old actor, acclaimed for his work in TV series Our Friends in the North and a variety of film roles including Ted Hughes in Sylvia and a cocaine dealer in gangster drama Layer Cake, arrived in true 007 style to make the official announcement that he would be the next movie superspy. Flanked by Royal Marines, smartly suited Craig boarded a rigid raider craft at HMS Belfast, which sped under London's Tower Bridge before mooring at the jetty of HMS President, where he was introduced to the world's press.

A beaming Craig was asked how he was feeling about his new role as he walked up the gangplank to HMS President. Craig replied: "I'm speechless at the moment."

At the press conference, Craig promised to take the role in a new direction. Speaking about the challenge he faces taking on the job in the next movie Casino Royale, he said: "I've just got to step up to the plate and deal with it."

He said he was always confident he would win the coveted role after the producers spent 18 months looking for a new star to replace Pierce Brosnan. "I had a confidence about it ... I felt good about it," he said.

Having said that, and despite increasingly insistent rumours he had beaten numerous other British actors to the coveted role, Craig revealed that he only received confirmation of the casting decision this Monday.

Director Martin Campbell said the next film would be "definitely darker, more character, less gadgets".

Producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said Craig would bring a "contemporary edge to the role". Wilson said: "Daniel is a superb actor who has all the qualities needed to bring a contemporary edge to the role.

"Casino Royale will have all the action, suspense and espionage that our audiences have come to expect from us but nevertheless takes the franchise in a new and exciting direction."

Craig follows Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan into one of the most enduringly popular movie franchises. His first Bond film, Casino Royale, is based on Ian Fleming's first novel but will be the 21st film in the series. It is due to begin shooting in January.