It’s been over a year since Spectre, Craig’s fourth outing as James Bond, hit cinema screens. During the press tour the actor famously said he’d rather slit his own wrist than do another Bond film, sparking speculation that it was his last – although he later explained he was exaggerating because he’d just come off two years working on the new one. However in October last year the 48-year-old said: “As far as I'm concerned, I've got the best job in the world. “I’ll keep doing it as long as I still get a kick out of it. If I were to stop doing it, I would miss it terribly.”

MGM James Bond: Has Daniel Craig quit quietly while MGM hold secret auditions for next 007?

But since then he hasn’t been officially confirmed for a fifth film, amid rumours he has put producers in a panic due to being indecisive again. Recent news surrounding the 25th Bond film suggests it’s possible that Craig has quietly stepped down, despite becoming the second longest serving 007 this week, and that producers are holding secret auditions for the next star to take on the role. Two pieces of evidence in particular suggest this could in fact be the case. Firstly there was news yesterday that James Bond 25 has already begun production without Craig confirmed to return. The Mayor of Dubrovnik let slip that advanced negotiations had begun on the next 007 adventure.

Who will be the next James Bond? Wed, July 6, 2016 We take a look through the contenders to fill Daniel Craig's tuxedo as the new 007 James Bond Play slideshow PH 1 of 11 Contenders for the new James Bond

This adds to previous news that producers want the new film to be released in late 2018, meaning filming would have to take place this summer. Then there’s the sudden odds slashing on both Michael Fassbender and James Norton, who are joint first to take on the role. But how would we know that MGM is holding auditions in secret? Well the recent actions of Aidan Turner and Idris Elba, who are just behind the other two Bond favourites at the bookies, suggests its likelihood. In late January Turner attended the National Television Awards where the Poldark star dodged a question about becoming the next Bond.

GETTY James Norton and Michael Fassbender are currently joint favourites to be the next James Bond

BBC/GETTY Aidan Turner recently walked away from Bond questions

Avoiding eye contact, Turner looked a little shifty, as though he was hiding something. He replied: “No questions like that! Can’t answer that one!” He was then asked if he would like to be Bond, before shaking his head – which presumably meant he couldn’t talk about it – and then walking away from the reporter. A few weeks later Elba caused a stir in a Valentine’s Day video where he gets dating advice from kids.

YOUTUBE Idris Elba gave these telling look when Bond was mentioned in a recent video