Rumours surrounding who take over from Daniel Craig as James Bond have been heating up in recent weeks. First, Craig reportedly turned down a multi-million-pound deal to star in two sequels to Spectre.

Then, Tom Hiddleston - who was already widely thought to be in the running thanks to his standout performance in The Night Manager - was said to be in ‘advanced talks’ regarding playing the spy.

Adding further fuel to those rumours is a new report from Radio Times stating The Night Manager director Susanne Bier is in contention to direct the next instalment in the franchise, taking over from Sam Mendes who recently confirmed he won’t be returning to the series.

If Bier does get the job - for which she is one of the frontrunners - it will not only mark a reunion with Hiddleston but will mark the first time a woman has ever directed a Bond film.

Product placement in James Bond films Show all 6 1 /6 Product placement in James Bond films Product placement in James Bond films Sony Vaio in Casino Royale Bond was besotted with his Sony Vaio in Casino Royale. Product placement in James Bond films Heineken In Skyfall, Daniel Craig's Bond controversially had a Heineken. The deal is estimated to have cost the beer producers $45 million. Product placement in James Bond films American Motors In The Man With The Golden Gun, Bond exclusively drove American Motors as part of a $5 million deal which saw the AMC Hornet jump over a broken bridge Eon Productions Product placement in James Bond films Omega Bond has nearly always worn an Omega watch. The one featured in Tomorrow Never Dies was eventually sold at Christies. Product placement in James Bond films Red Stripe Instead of sipping from a Martini, in Dr. No Bond decided to neck a Red Stripe. Product placement in James Bond films Aston Martin The Astin Martin: Bond's main choice of car since the beginning. A new one was made especially for Spectre.

She has previously said of Hiddleston: “There's a certain incredibly enigmatic quality to his eyes. You aren't sure you can trust him, but you are sure there is a pain there that he doesn’t show.

"He's so immaculate and fun and elegant and charming, and there is somewhere inside of him a painfulness, which I think for most women, is irresistible."