Jack Lowden is too old to play James Bond, according to his former Slow Horses co-star Nick Mohammed.

The Slow Horses star, 36, is strongly rumoured to have landed the coveted role as 007 in the new movie coming from Amazon MGM Studios but the gossip has been dismissed by his former co-star Nick, who claims the pair have "talked about it loads" and it doesn't seem likely.

Nick told The Independent newspaper: "Like I would know, but also I just suspect not … We've been talking about it loads, actually. I would love it to be true. I sort of don't think it is."

He went on to suggest he thinks casting bosses have been looking for a younger actor to play Bond and his pal wouldn't fit the brief because of his age.

Nick - who played Zafar Jaffrey in Slow Horses - added: "I'd heard rumours - as everyone heard rumours - that it was going to be a younger Bond, that they wanted someone possibly more in their late twenties rather than in their thirties. So we'll see."

It comes after another Slow Horses star - Gary Oldman - weighed in on the James Bond debate and he suggested Jack had definitely been cast as Daniel Craig's replacement.

Asked if he would back Jack for the role, Gary replied during the interview on Canada's Global: "It's been rumoured that he's on the shortlist. We're going to find out pretty soon, aren't we? Because they have picked him.

"They have made their choice, but they have not announced it yet. So my fingers are crossed for Jack."

James Bond writer Steven Knight - who is penning the script for the new film - also suggested the next 007 has already been chosen.

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Today show, questioning inevitably turned to the identity of the new Bond. However, Stephen said: "I cannot speak about this subject. Much as I would dearly love to."

Presenter Anna Foster then said that "presumably you know who it is when you're writing it", asking Steven if it "make a difference".

He replied: "It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor."

He added: "The thing with Bond is it's its own universe, and it's its own franchise. So there are certain rules. I mean, obviously you have to move it along, but I love where it sits. I love that it's British. I love that it's not DC or Marvel … So I feel a responsibility to the text"

It was reported over the summer that auditions were taking place for the replacement for 007, while other names on the list including Jack Barton - known for his role in Netflix's Heartstopper, as well as Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal and Harris Dickinson.