The secret clue that Jack Lowden will be the next James Bond… if he passes Sean Connery’s ‘bed and gun’ test

JACK LOWDEN could be the next James Bond, but not before he proves he is a charmer in the bedroom – and can handle his weapon. He is tipped by fans to play the spy after failing to feature in this week’s announcement that Slow Horses — in which he stars as a beleaguered MI5 agent — is returning to Apple TV for an eighth series. Contenders for becoming the new Bond: From left, Paul Mescal, Jack Barton, Harris Dickinson, Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi Credit: Unknown Jack Lowden is tipped to become the next James Bond after he was left out of the announcement confirming Slow Horses will return for an eighth series Credit: Getty It prompted speculation he has quit the show to be the next 007. Jack has emerged as favourite ahead of Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson and Paul Mescal. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Heart-throb Jack Barton is also said to be a wild-card after unexpectedly making the casting shortlist. But before the successful candidate is finally unveiled, hopefuls have to complete one of the most rigorous, secretive and legendary audition ­processes in Hollywood. Each contender will be rated on sex appeal and must shoot a scene from 1963’s From Russia With Love, in which Sean ­Connery’s Bond finds Tatiana Romanova, played by Daniela Bianchi, in his bed. The frontrunners will also have to prove they are golden with a gun, drawing their weapon and slinging their holster in a style that convinces bosses they are true spy material. Bond producer Amy Pascal said of the ­casting process, which began last month: “We are being really, really methodical.” Casino Royale director Martin Campbell, who masterminded Daniel Craig’s first ­outing as 007 in 2006, explained how the longlist of actors vying for the role is whittled down. Most read in TV Bond hopefuls will need to pass Sean Connery’s ‘bed and gun’ test Credit: Moviestore Collection Daniel Craig’s first outing as suave superspyCredit: Refer to Source First, early contenders are invited for “informal chats”, without a script in sight. The idea is to assess their natural character, how they hold a room and whether or not — as casting director Nina Gold says — they “ooze sex appeal”. Those who make the shortlist are then invited to Pinewood Studios to film the famous From Russia With Love scene. Martin revealed that [ex-producers] Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson would blow a “hell of a lot of money” shooting the casting call, with a full crew, to work out which actor would best fit Bond’s famous tuxedo. He said: “Every day, during screen tests, we would have a full crew and would take one actor and spend the day filming. “They always use a From Russia With Love scene — a very simple one. But for every audition ever seen on Bond, they have used it. “It’s a scene where Bond comes into his hotel room, he takes off his jacket and shoulder ­holster, he starts to run his bath. “He senses somebody else is in the hotel room. “He crosses the balcony, opens the door and there’s a girl in his bed and she’s there to find out what he’s after — which is the Lektor [decoding] machine. And, of course, he has to seduce her. Lowden has emerged as favourite ahead of Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson and Paul Mescal, above Credit: Getty Callum Turner has recently signed a major deal to be an ambassador for Johnnie Walker, the premium scotch often favoured by the screen spy Credit: Getty “So, in a funny way, it incorporates all the Bond bits and pieces. “When he comes in, it’s the way he takes his jacket off effortlessly, the way he flings his shoulder holster, the way he walks. “Because Bond is effortless, you never see him fumble a light switch. You never see him fumble when he takes the jacket off. “It’s all very clean but very ­natural, and that’s the ­reason they go and they spend a hell of a lot of money. We tested eight people [for Casino Royale]. I mean, a one-day shoot is not cheap if you have eight of them. “I felt sorry for Daniel Craig because he had to fly in from America on the red-eye for his audition and he was in the middle of filming — I think with Nicole Kidman. BOND SELECTION CRITERIA Does he ooze sex appeal? The bed and gun test Can he carry off a tuxedo? The fight and stamina round Ultimate test: Can he commit? “He arrived and he was red-eyed and obviously pretty exhausted. But, of course, he’s a terrific actor so he was great.” Those who make it through the “bed and gun” challenge can also be required to perform further, high-budget screen tests, which capture everything from how they wear a tux to their endurance in fight sequences. They then face a ­torturous wait to learn if they have been successful. The full decision-making process can take six months to a year. George Lazenby, who played 007 in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, told in 2017 how his four-month audition schedule was so gruelling that he eventually hit a stuntman by accident ­during a fighting test. Heart-throb Jack Barton is also said to be a wild-card after unexpectedly making the casting shortlist Credit: Getty Harris Dickinson is also said to have made the screen test shortlist Credit: Getty Fifth Bond Pierce Brosnan — who auditioned first in 1986 and then replaced Timothy Dalton in 1994 — described missing out on the role due to a contract clash as, “very stressful . . . dreadfully so”. Martin revealed the final ­casting decision was historically made in a “very, very democratic” process — a show of hands in the back room of a private club near Harrod’s. At a Unicef event celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Casino Royale, he revealed: “The way the selections are made is very, very democratic. “When casting Casino Royale, we all got in a room which was at the back of Harrod’s, some club. “You sit there and there’s myself and there’s Barbara and Michael. “There’s the head of Sony ­Worldwide, and [producer] Amy Pascal was there. “Obviously, the casting director was there. And you basically go around the actors I mentioned, and your hand goes up or down. “When we got to Daniel, all their hands go up. Daniel was obviously different — he doesn’t have the really classic looks of someone like Pierce Brosnan or Sean Connery. “So I wasn’t sure. So I went, ‘Look, I need to just think about it. I need a day to think about it’. Jacob Elordi was once rumoured to be a favourite to play the famous spy Credit: Getty Each contender will be rated on sex appeal and must shoot a scene from 1963’s From Russia With Love, in which Sean ­Connery’s Bond finds Tatiana Romanova, played by Daniela Bianchi, in his bed Credit: Alamy “But the next day, I watched Layer Cake and, of course, he was terrific in that and had a real sense of humour. So it ­happened.” Once chosen by the committee, the final hurdle an actor faces before becoming Bond is not artistic, but contractual. Taking on the iconic role requires a long-term commitment which will define an actor’s life for at least a decade. The star must agree to a multi-movie deal, with each one ­shooting for a six-month block, and global press tours also wrapped in. And they cannot be locked into any conflicting commercial deals. Pierce Brosnan was the favourite to play Bond in The Living Daylights in 1986, but lost the role to Timothy Dalton at the last moment because his contract for TV show Remington Steele was unexpectedly renewed. This perhaps explains why Jack mysteriously did not feature in the announcement confirming season eight of Slow Horses, ­suggesting he is leaving his role in the show as River Cartwright. Meanwhile, other candidates appear to have turned commercial deals to their advantage in the latest race. Callum Turner has recently signed a major deal to be an ambassador for Johnnie Walker, the premium scotch often favoured by the screen spy. He posed for an ad campaign in an undone black tie. Meanwhile, rumoured contender Jonathan Bailey was unveiled as the new global face of Martini — which Bond famously takes “shaken, not stirred”. Asked when the much- anticipated casting decision might be announced last month, producer Amy said: “I would say the end of the year is a good bet. “I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different, that is stirring and exciting.” Comment now