Daniel Craig shares advice for next James Bond

Watch: Daniel Craig responds to latest James Bond delay

Actor Daniel Craig has passed on his words of wisdom for the next 007: “Leave it better than when you found it”.

The star of five Bond films appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon days after the announcement his last outing, No Time To Die, would be delayed.

It was originally due to be released in April, but was delayed until November amid global concern around the spread of coronavirus.

The film will now be released in April 2021.

Read more: Why 007 has endured as a movie mainstay

Speaking about the delay, Craig said: “This thing is just bigger than all of us.

“We just want people to go and see this movie in the right way and in a safe way.

“We want to release the movie at the same time all around the world and this isn’t the right time. So fingers cross 2 April is going to be our date.”

When asked what advice he had for the next person to take on the role of the iconic spy, he said: “Don’t f*** it up. It’s a beautiful, amazing thing. Leave it better than when you found it.”

Daniel Craig joined the franchise in 2006’s Casino Royale and has played 007 in five films to date. He took over from Pierce Brosnan whose final film, 2002’s Die Another Day, is considered a series low point.

Tom Hardy is currently the bookies favourite to replace Craig as Bond, but as many armchair experts have pointed out: at 43, the Mad Max star may be too long in the tooth to play 007.

No Time To Die also stars Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas and is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, with a script co-written by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

The film finds Bond after he has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica when his old friend Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright, from the CIA turns up asking for help.

Watch: The latest trailer for No Time To Die