Daniel Craig as BondDaniel Craig as BondThe wait is finally over and the 200 Bond contenders have been whittled down to just one...

Mr Daniel Craig.

So, no surprise there then.

But poor Daniel. It seems he'll need to toughen up a bit to take on the role after revealing that his grand entrance for the press conference, in a boat up the Thames, made him a tad nervous.

His first words to the media were: "I just want to say thanks to the Marines for bringing me in - and scaring the s**t out of me."

Smooth.

On being asked what his reaction was after getting the phone call telling him the role was his, Daniel admitted: "My first thought was I need a drink."

Daniel arriving with the MarinesDaniel arriving with the MarinesHe refused to answer a cheeky question about who his ideal Bond Girl would be out of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller - following reports of flings with both stars.

However, together with the Bond film producers he promised to take the film "somewhere... maybe where it's never been before".

The other contenders...

For the last 18 months there has been speculation and rumours about just who would win the role of the world's best-known secret agent.

Daniel - the first blond Bond - has always been a strong contender - but other favourites were Clive Owen, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman and even Robbie Williams.

And then there was the long-running hope that Pierce Brosnan would patch up his differences with the Bond producers and step into the tux for one last movie.

He recently said he was all set for his fifth Bond movie when he was dropped in one "highly disappointing" phone call.

But in the end it was 37-year-old Daniel, established star of movies such as Layer Cake, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Road To Perdition, who turned the producers' heads.

They are keen to make 2006's Casino Royale more about the character of 007, and not rely so heavily on gadgets and special effects.

With his piercing-blue eyes and cold stare, Daniel is likely to be an edgier Bond than previous incarnations, with an emphasis on the assassin over the ladies' man.

Only time will tell if they picked the right man for the job.