Daisy May be Bond's new chief

The star of This Country is said to be in talks with production chiefs to portray M in 007's next outing.

- Mark Reynolds

LIKE James Bond's iconic martini, his spy agency boss is about to be shaken up with comedy actress Daisy May Cooper tipped for the key role.

Daisy, 36, would follow several famous actors in playing the part, including Ralph Fiennes and Dame Judi Dench, with bosses hoping she would add her humour and style.

Sources say the possibility was mooted after Daisy's good friend and Bond writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge joined the as-yet-unnamed production as a script consultant.

Bosses are thought to be keen to overhaul the franchise following the departure of Daniel Craig as Bond, in the wake of his final film No Time To Die in September 2021.

One production source said: "Daisy is a close pal of Phoebe, whose involvement in Bond was such a success that it sparked an unlikely conversation. The production team was getting excited about the prospect of really taking M in a different direction.