James Bond: Could James Nelson-Joyce become 'double oh Scouse'?
Liverpudlian actor James Nelson-Joyce said it would be a "privilege" to become the first "double oh scouse" after the odds of him becoming the next James Bond were slashed.Nelson-Joyce has seen his star rise thanks to his role as crime boss Michael Kavanagh in BBC crime saga This City is Ours, which is set in his home city.Bookmakers Coral assessed the 36-year-old's chances of replacing Daniel Craig as the iconic British spy in the long-running movie franchise at only 6/1.Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, the Orrell Park-born actor described himself as "just a lucky lad".
"I mean... double oh scouse, I'm here for it," joked Nelson-Joyce.He said seeing the buzz around This City is Ours was a real "pinch myself" moment.Moving on to talk about his career, he added: "I've been at this what, 15 or 16 years? "So to now be part of a BBC drama that's had such an impact like this? It's a bit surreal really."The Time and Little Boy Blue star said he welcomed the economic benefit - estimated at £9m by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority - brought to the region by This City is Ours production."We want more filming in the area, more filming in Liverpool," said Nelson-Joyce. "It's the third most filmed city in Britain [and] the second outside of London. "We want to push that and use it as much as we can because it generates so [many] opportunities, money and employment for the area."
Nelson-Joyce was speaking to reporters at the opening of a new "centre for warmth" in Kirkdale on Wednesday. The £500,000 community centre aims to help people access support with heating bills, benefit assessments and funding assessments for children with additional needs. It has been set up on the site of Kirkdale St Lawrence Primary School. Nelson-Joyce said: "It's a big stress on people's lives - the worry of money has a massive impact. "To know that they've got somewhere to come where you feel like they're on your side, and they are on your side, it's so important for the community."
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
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