Idris Elba has laughed off James Bond author Anthony Horowitz’s criticism that he is “too street” too play 007.

The Luther star has long been hotly tipped to take over from Daniel Craig as the first black Bond in the spy movie franchise.

Idris posted a link to the headline, saying: “Always Keep Smiling!! It takes no energy and never hurts! Learned that from the Street!!”

The 60-year-old novelist, who wrote the new 007 book Trigger Mortis, has already apologised after he was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: “It’s not a colour issue … Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”

Anthony said he was thinking of Idris’s gritty role in the BBC crime drama Luther, and did not mean to cause offence. He said he believed another black actor, Adrian Lester, would be a better choice.

Adrian Lester
Adrian Lester (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Daniel Craig is expected to step down from playing 007 after the release of new movie Spectre in October. Idris is currently the second favourite to replace him, according to bookmakers William Hill, just behind favourite Damian Lewis.