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Good Morning Britain star Ed Balls is seriously unimpressed by reports about the next actor to play James Bond.
The ITV morning show kicked off with a discussion over reports Kickass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson has been chosen to take over the iconic role from Daniel Craig, a after years of speculation about who would step into the character.
While Aaron, 33, has long been a rumoured favourite, along with the likes of Cillian Murphy and Idris Elba, Ed didn't hide his disappointment about the reported choice.
As a photograph of Aaron appeared on screen, Ed complained: ‘Look at him, that is not a Bond.’
‘Bond doesn’t have long hair, look at that, that is not James Bond!,’ he complained about the snap of Aaron with his trademark curls.
‘He’ll have to spruce up, this guy will need a haircut,’ Ed continued, as Susanna Reid quizzed him about what he has against long hair on men.
‘It’s James Bond!’ Ed replied. ‘James Bond, of the Ian Fleming novel, did not have long hair. It’s James Bond, enough said — he doesn’t have long hair!’
Ed then jokingly asked viewers watching from home: ‘Should he get a haircut, yes or no?’
And fans did take to X to share their thoughts, with user ReaKtion writing that they were ‘in agreement with Ed Balls. Aaron Taylor-Johnson will need a haircut before he takes on the James Bond role.’
They added: ‘Leave the long hair to John Wick.’
User Pickle said ‘I like Aaron Taylor-Johnson but I’m not sure I can see him as Bond, but that’s because I loved Craig.’
Anne McRoberts said ther was ‘nothing wrong with long hair,’ but Jacko said she ‘totally agrees … we have to have a smart-looking Bond, not someone who looks like he’s been dragged through a hedge.’ Harsh.
It comes after The Sun reported on Monday that the Angus Thongs & Perfect Snogging actor has been officially selected as the next 007 by Eon Productions, the company behind the films, and will accept the prestigious job in the ‘coming days.’
Once the contract is signed, the next instalment of the spy movie will begin shooting later this year, according to a source.
They told The Sun: ‘Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back.
‘As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.’
In August, Aaron was asked about whether he had been approached for Bond and gave a cryptic answer, telling Esquire: ‘I just focus on the things I can have in my hands right now, what’s in front of me right now.’
His comments came after it was claimed he impressed in a secret audition for producer Barbara Broccoli at Pinewood Studios in 2022.
Aaron is married to a 57-year-old woman who directed Fifty Shades of Grey. director, Sam Taylor-Johnson, whom he met on the set of Nowhere Boy when he was 18, and they got engaged a year later.
Good Morning Britain is broadcast on weekdays starting from 6am on ITV and ITVX.
