TOM Hiddleston is bulking himself up on a special high-protein diet as he ramps up his bid to become the next James Bond.

The Night Manager star, 35, is the front-runner to take over from Daniel Craig as 007 but faces stiff competition from fellow Brit actor Tom Hardy, who is now his main rival.

Batman star Hardy, 38, is already well known for his muscular physique after beefing up to play Bane in 2012 superhero flick The Dark Knight Rises.

A source at Eon productions, who make the Bond films, revealed: “Hiddleston is already bulking up for the Bond role on a special diet.

“His new physique has been noticed by the bosses who now have him at the top of their list to replace Daniel.

“Tom Hardy is going to be his main contender and not Idris Elba as everyone thinks.

“He was their pick up until recently but Hiddleston has shot ahead and he is working extra hard to get the part.”

Tom’s Bond credentials have risen tenfold over the past month since The Sun revealed he had secretly started dating pop superstar Taylor Swift.

This week the new couple took a romantic trip to Rome where they were pictured visiting the Colosseum and other tourist spots.

Tom was also pictured kissing Taylor’s hand over dinner in the Italian city.

It comes after US singer Taylor, 26, who only recently split with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, joined Tom in his English home county of Suffolk where she met his mum Diana.

Hiddleston’s chances of landing the role of 007 increased last month when it emerged that The Night Manager director Susanne Bier is a front-runner to direct the next spy flick.

The Danish movie boss, 56, worked closely with him on the popular BBC1 drama, after which he became the bookies’ favourite to play Bond.

Meanwhile current Bond star Daniel Craig is in talks to star in a film called Kings alongside former Bond girl Halle Berry about the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

The Brit star also recently threw his future as Bond into doubt by signing up to 20-episode US TV series Purity.

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