One of the North West‘s fastest rising young stars is reportedly said to be “in consideration” for the next James Bond.
Fans of the smash-hit show Emily in Paris – which is currently drawing in millions of viewers globally after releasing its third series on Netflix just before Christmas – may recognise Lucien Laviscount for playing the part of English banker Alfie, who turns up as a student in lead character Emily’s French class in the second series and goes on to become one of her love interests.
But could he soon be known for a different role?
Well, if the rumours that have been circulating in the tabloids and on social media over the last 24-hours are anything to go by, the 30-year-old Burnley-born actor may be set to swap Paris for the life of a MI6 agent.
He has reportedly grabbed the attention of 007 producer Barbara Broccoli, and is now believed to be in the running for the highly-coveted part of James Bond.
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Lucien Laviscount reportedly ‘in consideration’ for the next James Bond / Credit: Netflix
Laviscount may have also made a name for himself after securing roles in Grange Hill, Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, the 2017 remake of Snatch, and on US series Scream Queens, and Katy Keene, as well as being a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2011 – but stepping into the shoes of James Bond would be a whole new territory.
They explained: “He is a super-talented actor, is extremely handsome, and in the past 18 months has won lots of new fans since he joined Emily In Paris.
“Bond bosses are already saying how you can see him in the 007 tuxedo, how dapper and fitting to the role he will look.”
James Bond is undoubtedly one of the most famous characters of all time, and the role is always considered to be one of the hottest roles in Hollywood, whatever the generation, but it is perhaps none more so than at the moment following Daniel Craig’s departure after starring as the famous spy for five films from 2006’s Casino Royale to 2021’s No Time To Die.
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The 30-year-old is said to have caught the eye of 007 producers / Credit: Lucien Laviscount (via Instagram)
Laviscount is the latest actor to appear on the ever-growing list of names to replace Craig in the 007 role, and comes after fellow Brit Aaron Taylor-Johnson emerged as a frontrunner last month.
Taylor-Johnson was, at the time, said to be ahead of other huge acting names including former Superman star Henry Cavill, Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page, Tom Hardy, and BAFTA-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor, but it’s unsure at this moment where Laviscount sits in this lineup and how much of a chance he stands.
Despite all the rumours of frontrunners though, it’s believed that Broccoli and fellow producer Michael G Wilson are to make a casting announcement in March.
Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.
From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.
No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.
And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.
The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.
Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport.
Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK
Salford
Portsmouth
Manchester
Southampton
London
Leeds
Stoke-on-Trent
Wakefield
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bradford
Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.
And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.
Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.
But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.
As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.
Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd January 2023 
