007 favourite James Norton on casting a black James Bond

A British actor tipped to play 007 has said casting a black James Bond is less important than diversity behind the camera.

James Norton, who has often been tipped as the favourite to succeed Daniel Craig as the secret agent, has addressed calls for a BAME actor in the role

The star of ITV series Grantchester told GQ magazine that casting a black actor as Bond was proposed as a way to “remedy what has been an endemic amount of whitewashing”.

But the actor maintains that diversity behind the camera is more important than altering an iconic franchise.

He said: "That, I think, is more important. Obviously, casting a Bond of colour is important if handled in a sensitive way, but there's a bigger picture.

“We need to treat the cause rather than the symptom."

The actor added that filmmakers could create a “new story that is authentically representative” of BAME experiences, any new story would not have the mass of the 007 franchise.

He said: “You're never going to create a franchise that will compete with the power of Bond from the off.”

Craig has said the delayed No Time To Die will be his last Bond film, prompting speculation about who could replace him.

British actor Idris Elba has often been touted as a potential successor, and the first black Bond.

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