JIM Bergerac, Clark Kent and James Bond? Jersey could be on track to complete a notable treble of fictional leading men after it was revealed that the new 007 is set to be named within months, with Islander Henry Cavill strongly backed to take the role.

Leading bookmaker William Hill said that after a “sustained surge” of bets on Mr Cavill to succeed Daniel Craig as Bond, it had slashed the price on this outcome from 20/1 to 3/1.

The Jersey actor is currently listed by William Hill as second-favourite, behind Callum Turner, the 11/10 favourite, but ahead of Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jack Lowden – both 6/1 – and other actors such as Harris Dickinson (8/1), Louis Partridge (10/1) and Jacob Elordi (12/1).

A flurry of activity in the betting markets followed an interview given by film producer Amy Pascal, who produced the first three Bond films starring Daniel Craig for Sony Pictures between 2006 and 2012, and is now preparing for the next iteration of the spy franchise for Amazon MGM Studios.

Ms Pascal told US entertainment website Deadline that an announcement before the end of the year was “a good bet”.

She added: “Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow – it’s got to be something that is stirring and exciting and different.”

One factor that may not be in favour St Michael’s School pupil is his age – Mr Cavill is 43, five years older than Mr Craig when he first played 007 in 2006, and some film insiders have indicated that they expect a younger Bond such as Mr Turner (36) or even a Gen Z candidate, 29-year-old Mr Elordi.

Mr Cavill played Clark Kent, also known as Superman, in five films between 2013 and 2022.

Filming for the second series of the new Bergerac recently started. The fictional Jersey-based TV detective has been played by both Englishman John Nettles and the Irish actor Damian Molony.

Vintage actors

Age of selected film/TV stars on first playing Clark Kent, Jim Bergerac or James Bond

  • Christopher Reeve (Superman, 1976) – age 26
  • Henry Cavill (Superman, 2012) – 30
  • Sean Connery (Bond, 1962) – 32
  • Daniel Craig (Bond, 2006) – 38
  • John Nettles (Bergerac, 1981) – 38
  • Damian Molony (Bergerac, 2025) – 41
  • Pierce Brosnan (Bond, 1995) – 42
  • Roger Moore (Bond, 1973) – 45

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