We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about the fact that capers are actually flower buds – hand-picked, dried, salted, and sometimes brined before consumption. The sooner these are picked, the smaller and tastier the caper.

And apparently it’s not the only spice made from neither a fruit nor a vegetable.

Yup – the humble clove is another flower part, too.

They’re the dried flower buds and (sometimes) stems of the clove tree, which are evergreen members of the myrtle tree family. These are native to Indonesia but also grow in other tropical locations, like Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.

This makes them “an unusual spice because they are dried flower buds while most spices are either fruit/seeds (nutmeg, star anise etc.) or vegetative parts such as stems (ginger, turmeric, cinnamon) and leaves (kaffir lime),” the University of Reading said.

These unripe buds are “nail-shaped”, spice company McCormick’s Science Institute (MSI) shared on their site.

In fact, they added, in traditional Chinese medicine, clove spice is called “ding xiang”, which translates to “nail spice”. Its English name, “clove”, derives from the Latin clavus, also meaning “nail”.

And though they’re a sort of burgundy-brown by the time we add them to our dinner, the clove tree’s buds are “bright red” when they’re harvested and dried.

Those who’ve cooked with the whole spice will know that it’s shaped a bit like a lollipop, in that there’s a round part on the top and a straight, long base.

That’s because, MSI explained, whole cloves consist of “stems with four unopened petals which form a small ball in the centre”.

This differentiates them from round capers, which are made only from the soft bud of the Capparis bush.

There’s something very specific about the flavour (and smell) of cloves.

And according to the University of Reading, that might be down to a compound called eugenol, which is “named for the genus Eugenia, another generic name for the clove plant”.

Eugenol comprises about 85% of cloves’ essential oils and is responsible for the numbing, tingling feeling cloves can give you.

Aside from giving cloves their distinctive aroma; eugenol, which can also be found in ginger roots, tulsi leaves, and cinnamon, has been linked to “antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic [fever-reducing], analgesic [pain-relieving], antiparasite, and antimicrobial properties”.

It also has “a great role in neuroprotection, enhances skin permeability, [and] relieves pains,” a 2021 paper reads, and may even have a role in controlling cholesterol.

It’s now been almost five years since Daniel Craig’s departure from the James Bond franchise in No Time To Die – and somehow there’s still been no confirmation of who will be succeeding him as 007.

Over the last year, there have been some behind-the-scenes developments for the James Bond franchise, with a new creative team taking control and an Oscar-nominated filmmaker having now been chosen to direct the next instalment.

Finally, bosses announced in mid-May that the “search for the next James Bond” was officially underway, with auditions having now begun.

Until recently, it looked like the role was Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s for the taking, but since then, Callum Turner has been rumoured to be the hot contender for the role, as has Jacob Elordi.

As the 007 search continues, here are 21 stars who’ve all been rumoured for the job…

Who is he? The Australian actor has been a star on the rise ever since his break-out role in the teen drama Euphoria.

Following acclaim in films like Saltburn, Priscilla and The Narrow Road To The Deep North, Jacob landed his first Oscar nomination in 2026 for his performance as the creature in Frankenstein, the same year he also got everyone talking thanks to his work as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights.

Where did the rumour come from? Jacob’s name was first mentioned as a serious contender to play James Bond in the summer of 2025, when Variety suggested he was at the top of producers’ wishlists.

Following this, World Of Reel claimed he’d met with director Denis Villeneuve, with the gossip site DeuxMoi suggesting shortly after Wuthering Heights’ release that he’d been offered the role of James Bond.

What’s he said? He previously told Extra of calls for him to play James Bond: “That’s beautiful… I just like that people maybe want to put me in their movies. That makes me really glad.”

Who is he? Callum Turner has been putting in the work for more than a decade now, but he’s enjoyed a real breakthrough in the last few years.

Some of his most recent projects include the Fantastic Beasts movies, in which he played Theseus Scamander, the sports drama The Boys In The Boat and the star-studded Apple TV+ series Masters Of The Air.

He’s also been making headlines for several years now thanks to his relationship with his famous fiancée, pop superstar Dua Lipa, who has also been repeatedly linked with the Bond franchise as she’s been rumoured to be recording the next film’s accompanying theme song.

Where did the rumour come from? In December 2025, several news outlets spotted that betting odds had been suddenly slashed on Callum being cast as James Bond.

Since then, Callum’s name was mentioned in an article published by the Mail, suggesting he’d been “blabbing all over town” that he’d landed the coveted spy role.

What has he said? Despite the Mail’s reports about Callum’s loose-lipped approach to his Bond casting, he hasn’t said anything publicly yet.

Meanwhile, during an appearance at the Berlinale film festival in February 2026, Callum was definitely in no mood to discuss the rumours, giving a rather curt answer when asked about the speculation at a press conference.

Who is he? Until recently, Aaron has been widely considered as the frontrunner for the role of James for more than a year now. His past credits include the superhero comedy Kick-Ass, the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.

Since then, he’s appeared in projects as varied as Marvel’s Kraven The Hunter, the arthouse horror flick Nosferatu and Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later.

Where did the rumour come from? In November 2022, Aaron supposedly met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli (who has since left the franchise), with follow-up reports claiming the meeting “went well”.

More recently, in 2024, tabloid reports went as far as saying he’d been cast in the role, though this was walked back mere days later. However, the rumour mill has been in overdrive once again in recent history thanks to a series of clues pointing to Aaron playing 007.

What has he said? Nothing concrete just yet – but his skittishness when it comes to whether or not he’s playing James Bond has to count for something, right?

Who is he? The James Bond rumour that’s being going around the longest time involved Idris Elba, whose acting credits include the Thor films, Beasts of No Nation, the Fast & Furious series and the BBC detective drama Luther.

Where did the rumour come from? Idris has been rumoured to be in the running to play 007 for more than a decade (since the speculation began in 2014, there’ve been three new films in the series released), with leaked emails from Sony executives suggesting he was a favourite for the part. Following this, then-Bond boss Barbara Broccoli said Idris has been “part of the conversation” about who the role goes to next.

However, in August 2022 it was reported that Idris had made the decision to take himself out of the running – and in the last few years his casting has seemed less and less likely… although we’d kind of love it if he got the opportunity to play Bond at least once, given just how long he was associated with the franchise.

What has he said? “James Bond is a hugely coveted, iconic, beloved character that takes audiences on this massive escapism journey. Of course, if someone said to me, ‘Do you want to play James Bond?,’ I’d be like, ‘Yeah!’. That’s fascinating to me.”

Who is he? Musical theatre fans might be familiar with Tom Francis’ work, following his Olivier win and Tony nomination for his performance opposite Nicole Scherzinger in the musical revival of Sunset Boulevard.

Tom does have some impressive screen credits to his name, too, notably the divisive TV series You and the George Clooney movie Jay Kelly.

Where did the rumour come from? Days after it was revealed that casting was on for the next James Bond, Variety reported that the theatre star had popped in for an audition.

What has he said? Nothing at all, which – in the case of a story this big – is still something really, isn’t it?

Who is he? A more recent addition to the list of rumoured potential 007s is another Aaron, this time fellow Brit Aaron Pierre.

As well as voicing the title character in Disney’s Mufasa, Aaron appeared in The Underground Railroad, played Malcolm X in the anthology series Genius and starred opposite Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal in the sci-fi dystopian drama Foe.

Where did the rumour come from? The news appears to come from movie “insider” Daniel Richtman, who claimed in June 2025 that Aaron is “being considered” for the part.

What has he said? He told Chris Evans on Virgin Radio: “If that opportunity ever presented itself, that would be insane.”

Who is he? After getting his start in indies like Beach Rats and Triangle Of Sadness, British star Harris Dickinson’s profile has had a real boom in the last few years off the back of roles in Babygirl, The Iron Claw and A Murder At The End Of The World.

He’ll next be seen in action as John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ ambitious Beatles movie project – which, to be fair, means he may have too much on his plate to take on 007 too.

Where did the rumour come from? Variety’s piece on Amazon’s supposed “James Bond wishlist” in the summer 2025 that mentioned Jacob Elordi as a contender also included Harris (as well as Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland).

What’s he said? Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Harris insisted that “of course” James Bond is a role he’d be interested in.

“The role of James Bond is interesting,” he said. “The circumstances of Bond are interesting. The character, the world, what he goes through, that’s interesting.”

He also praised director Denis Villeneuve, who will helm the upcoming 25th James Bond film.

Who is he? He’s Tom Hardy! You may have seen him in films including Max Max: Fury Road, Dunkirk, Legend, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception or Venom.

Where did the rumour come from? Like Idris Elba, speculation about Tom Hardy playing 007 goes way back.

Things hotted up in 2020, though, when the film blog The Vulcan Reporter claimed he’d done several auditions for the part and was “basically locked into the role”.

What has he said? “You know, there’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race. So I can’t possibly comment on that one! If I mention it, it’s gone.”

Who is he? Probably best known for his role as Loki in the Marvel universe, Tom also won a Golden Globe for his performance in the drama The Night Manager.

Where did the rumour come from? Around the time The Night Manager was airing, many viewers pointed out that the British actor might be a good James Bond, and he was soon spotted having a meeting with the franchise’s chief Barbara Broccoli.

Unfortunately, this was also around the time of those infamous “I Heart TS” paparazzi shots, with rumours suggesting the ensuing media coverage (and his widely-panned Golden Globes speech) may have cost him the role of the man with the golden gun.

What has he said? “What can I say that you don’t already know? It’s interesting in itself that I’ve suddenly become very aware of what I’m saying, is it not?

“Because there’s something about what I’m saying that becomes the story. Not for you, but the world outside. Whatever I say, I’ve found, generated more questions.”

Who is he? After rising to fame in Game Of Thrones, the Scottish actor later won a Golden Globe for his leading role in Bodyguard.

Where did the rumour come from? The action-packed Bodyguard led to Richard being tipped to succeed Daniel Craig as Bond, with the Daily Mail reporting at the time that the drama had caught the eye of former 007 boss Barbara Broccoli.

Bodyguard’s producers even teased that a potential second series of the drama would depend on “what happens with James Bond”.

What has he said? “I’m more than flattered to be mentioned, for people to consider putting me in that role. I’m very flattered and thankful. It’s a really brilliant thing to be in.

“I don’t want to curse anything by saying anything. I think that’s the curse of that. If you talk about it, you’ll curse it.”

Who is he? James is perhaps best known for his TV roles, which have included Happy Valley, Grantchester, McMafia and The Trial Of Christine Keeler, though you may have also seen him in action in the recent big-screen adaptation of Little Women.

Where did the rumour come from? While many of the actors named as potential replacements for Daniel Craig are based on anonymous “insiders” and source quotes, the rumours about James seem to stem primarily from bookies’ odds.

However, he did spark something of a frenzy in his 2025 drama Playing Nice, when his character was the only person not wearing a tuxedo at a black-tie event, which some felt may have been due to a Bond contractual agreement.

What has he said? “It’s so weird and bemusing. But yet again, it’s based on pure speculation and it makes for a good little clickbait moment in the media. Other than that, it’s just fun and bemusing.”

Who is he? Jack Lowden has had a massive few years, scoring Bafta, Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his work in Slow Horses and appearing with Nicole Kidman in the breezy Netflix mystery The Perfect Couple.

Where did the rumour come from? This is another story that’s based on bookies’ odds, with Jack’s name soaring towards the top of the list when Amazon acquired creative control of the spy franchise.

What’s he said? Nothing yet – although his wife Saoirse Ronan seems keen on him taking over as 007.

Who is he? The British star of films like Crazy, Rich Asians; A Simple Favour and the Guy Ritchie action film The Gentlemen.

Where did the rumour come from? After Daniel Craig’s exit from the James Bond franchise was confirmed, fans began campaigning for Henry to take over the iconic spy role.

What has he said? “[The speculation] definitely [came] from Crazy Rich Asians, maybe the white suit coming out of the park. [And] because I’m Asian and everybody’s fighting for a diverse Bond – sorry, white guys.

“I don’t know. It’s an honour to even be in the conversation. It’s one of the greatest film roles ever, you’d be stupid to be like, ‘I don’t want to do that.’

“Isn’t it great that people are like, ’OK, now’s the time, why the hell can’t we have a black Bond, an Asian Bond, a mixed-race Bond, a non-distinct Bond?”

Who is he? After appearing in Sunshine On Leith and Pride, George landed his biggest role to date when he took the lead in the Bafta-winning 1917, and he’s since appeared in Femme and The End.

Where did the rumour come from? According to a 2021 report in Page Six, Bond producers were hoping to reboot the franchise after No Time To Die, making the Bond character younger, which is where the idea to have George play a rather different 007 was reportedly born.

What has he said? “You’ve got to consider it for sure. I mean, it’s an amazing thing, but it would also be a massive thing. I don’t know if that’s a reality, but if it ever became one, of course, it would be a consideration. But be a careful one.”

Who is he? Regé-Jean became an overnight sensation in 2020 thanks to his role as the main love interest in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton.

Where did the rumour come from? Fans immediately began suggesting Regé-Jean as a potential Bond, and when he announced he wasn’t returning for the second season of Bridgerton, the rumour mill hotted up even further.

What has he said? “Ah, the B word. I think if you are British and do anything of note, that other people take notice of, then people will start talking about that.

“That’s fairly normal and I’m flattered to be in the category of Brits that people have noticed.”

Who is he? Charlie’s biggest acting credits include Green Street, Queer As Folk, Sons Of Anarchy and Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen. In 2025, he caused a stir when he was cast as Ed Gein in the third season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster.

He was also famously cast in the role of Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades Of Grey franchise, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, and was replaced by Jamie Dornan.

Where did the rumour come from? Charlie’s name being linked with playing James Bond largely stems from his devoted fanbase, as well as bookies’ odds.

What has he said? “I would be so flattered and honoured to be considered to play James Bond as an Englishman. But my intuition tells me that I shouldn’t be waiting for that phone call to come. I think there are many people ahead of me on that list.

“It’s very flattering sort of fan dialogue. Nobody’s ever, on a professional level from within the industry, brought that up to me.

“As much as people want to talk about me playing James Bond – please continue. Maybe that’s the genesis of these things. Maybe fan chatter leads to industry people actually talking about it in a more serious way.”

Who is he? Sam is best known for playing one of the lead roles in the historical drama Outlander.

Where did the rumour come from? Sam has actually been on Bond producers’ radars for a while, having previously auditioned to succeed Pierce Brosnan in Casino Royale, which would eventually become Daniel Craig’s first outing in the role.

What has he said? “I don’t know if there is a conversation being had apart from in the media, but I think it’s an incredible franchise and a great character, so of course I would jump at it.”

Who is he? Henry is famous for playing Superman in the superhero’s most recent big-screen offerings, and also has the lead role in the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher.

Where did the rumour come from? After taking on an action role in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., many viewers suggested he’d be a fitting replacement for Daniel Craig, with rumours suggesting his name had been raised among producers as a hot favourite.

Like Sam Heughan, Henry also auditioned for Casino Royale, back when he was just 21 years old.

What has he said? “I would absolutely jump at the opportunity. At this stage, it’s all up in the air. We’ll see what happens. But yes, I would love to play Bond, it would be very, very exciting.”

Who is he? The chart-topping singer made a name for himself as a member of One Direction, before making a name for himself as a Grammy-winning solo artist.

In addition to his music career, Harry also had a short-lived career as an actor, first appearing in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk before getting mixed-at-best reviews for his work in Eternals, Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman.

Where did the rumour come from? This might sound like the work of over-excited Directioners, but in 2021, The Sun reported that Bond producers were hoping to take the character in a “new age” direction, and tipped Harry for the role.

What has he said? Harry’s reps said the rumours were “not even remotely true”. Too bad, tbh.

Who is he? Ted Lasso fans will recognise Phil from his Emmy-nominated performance as Jamie Tartt.

Where did the rumour come from? Interestingly, unlike most of the names on this list, this rumour comes straight from the horse’s mouth, with Phil confirming that a “conversation” was had about him playing Bond – albeit a short one.

What’s he said? “There was a conversation one of my agents had but they quite firmly shut the door in their face.”

Who is he? Another addition to the list of rumoured James Bond stars, Lucien Laviscount’s past credits include Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens and Emily In Paris.

Where did the rumour come from? The Daily Mail first reported in December 2022 that Lucien had caught the eye of James Bond producers, with an unnamed source claiming he “ticks all of the boxes” as a “super talented” and “extremely handsome” young actor.

However, it appears there’s one drawback.

According to the Mail, Lucien’s reality TV past (after leaving Waterloo Road, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, and was involved in a brief showmance with a certain Ms Katona) has put off some execs behind the scenes.

What has he said? Again, he’s yet to address the rumours directly, so make of that what you will.

Trevor Phillips has ripped apart the return of the Brexit rows by describing it as “performance art”.

The Sky News presenter opened his Sunday morning show by laying bare the rivalries on both sides of the political spectrum right now as parties fight over the Makerfield by-election.

The seismic contest could end up choosing the next prime minister.

If Labour candidate and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham wins, he is expected to oust Keir Starmer.

If he loses to Reform’s Robert Kenyon, there are wider fears of an all-out civil war in Labour.

The right-wing party’s chances of winning the next general election will be bolstered, too.

But as Phillips pointed out: “The sharpest political tensions aren’t between left and right, but within each wing of politics.

“On the left, a split is emerging between those who want the UK in effect back in the EU, and those who want to keep the red lines of no customs union, no common market, and no freedom of movement.

“Most of this is performance art since right now nobody in the EU wants us back.

“In pretty much every European language, the word United Kingdom translate into a phrase meaning, ‘massive pain in the backside’,” he said. “And even if they did offer a deal it would cost us billions we don’t have.”

Burnham’s leadership rival ex-health secretary Wes Streeting revived conversations about whether Britain should set up a new “special relationship” with the EU.

This was seen as a blow to Burnham, who is also in favour of closer ties with the trade bloc, because Makerfield voted Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.

Phillips continued: “On the right, we have what you might call the deportation game. Reform and Restore, a splint group to its right, are competing for the number of people it can throw out the country.

“Given [home secretary] Shabana Mahmood is now overseeing the largest drop in migration numbers for a decade or more, there’s a slight feeling of two bald men wrestling over a comb.”

Reform wants to remove approximately 400,000 asylum seekers but Restore – led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe – has proposed removing up to two million illegal migrants.

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