Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page has downplayed speculation he could be about to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond.

Regé-Jean can currently be seen as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in the hit Netflix period drama, the popularity of which has led to rumours he could be in line to take over the role of 007.

However, asked about this during an interview with US talk show host Jimmy Fallon, he insisted these aren’t claims we should take especially seriously.

“I think the internet thinks a lot of things and that’s one of the more pleasant ones,” he said. “I’m pleased as far as that goes.”

He continued: “If you’re a Brit, and you do something of any kind of renown that people regard well, then people start saying the ‘B’ word. It’s like a merit badge. You get the ‘B’ word merit badge.

“But I don’t think it’s much more than that. I’m very, very glad to have the badge. I’m glad to be in such wonderful company of people who have the badge. But it’s a badge.”

Daniel Craig has played the iconic MI5 agent since 2006’s Casino Royale, but will be stepping down when the 25th Bond film No Time To Die is finally released.

The film has been pushed multiple times due to the coronavirus pandemic, and is currently slated for release in April 2021.

Several actors have been heavily tipped to be in the frame to take over from Daniel Craig, with Tom Hardy, James Norton and Idris Elba all reportedly in the mix.

The first series of Bridgerton is now available to stream on Netflix.