Tom Hardy says that if he was given the chance to be the next James Bond he would “smash it out of the park”.

The actor, 38, is the current bookies’ favourite to replace Daniel Craig should Spectre be his last outing as 007.

Hardy, who is riding high after enjoying success in the title role of Mad Max: Fury Road, told the Standard he would relish the chance to become the seventh Bond.

“I would love to do it,” he said. “Who wouldn’t? If I did get the chance, I would smash it out the park.”

Speaking at Triumph Motorcycles’ new Bonneville launch party at The Bike Shed in Shoreditch, he added: “But there are a load of British actors who could do just the same.

“There is a long list of talent in this country who would love the honour just as much as me and could do it just as well.”

Hardy, who was born in Hammersmith, also said he felt Craig is not quite ready to walk away from the role:

Tom Hardy: For The Love of Dogs 5 show all Tom Hardy: For The Love of Dogs 1/5 Making new friends Tom Hardy get to know Titch at the Battersea Dogs' Home 2/5 Pucker up The A-list can't resist a quick smooch 3/5 Adoption? Paul O'Grady tried to convince Tom to take Titch home 4/5 Getting to know each other The Legend star seems comfortable with his new friend 5/5 In his element Hardy cuddles up to another canine companion 1/5 Making new friends Tom Hardy get to know Titch at the Battersea Dogs' Home 2/5 Pucker up The A-list can't resist a quick smooch 3/5 Adoption? Paul O'Grady tried to convince Tom to take Titch home 4/5 Getting to know each other The Legend star seems comfortable with his new friend 5/5 In his element Hardy cuddles up to another canine companion

“I believe Daniel will do one more. He, [director] Sam Mendes, [producers] Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson are an amazing team and have really got it cracked. Why would they want to break up that winning formula?”

There has been speculation that Spectre could be Craig’s final 007 movie, after an interview this month in which he said he would “rather slash his wrists” than make another one.

The actor, 47, later clarified his comments, telling the BBC: “I’m quite straightforward and I say things when I feel it and then I change my mind. I’m just like everybody else. People latch onto things. There’s not a lot I can do about that.”

Among the other names being touted as the next Bond are Damian Lewis and Idris Elba, who co-starred with Hardy in 2008’s RocknRolla and was DJ-ing at the Triumph party last night. Other guests included Gillian Anderson and motorcycle champion Carl Fogarty.

Elba, 43, remained tight-lipped at the event. While he has said taking on the role would be a “great honour”, he has dismissed talk linking him to it as “all rumour”. Tom Hiddleston, Michael Fassbender, Rupert Friend, David Oyelowo and Henry Cavill have also been named as possible replacements.

Spectre, the franchise’s 24th instalment, stars Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Monica Bellucci. It was released in cinemas on Monday after a premiere at the Royal Albert Hall.@alistair_foster