The name is Craig. Daniel Craig. The 37-year-old actor was finally unveiled as the sixth James Bond today - although the news came as little surprise, after being leaked early by his excited mum.

Craig arrived in true 007 style on a speedboat up the Thames, to be introduced to the world's media at a press conference aboard HMS President.

Flanked by Royal Marines and smartly dressed in a suit and sunglasses, he leaped aboard a rigid raider craft at HMS Belfast and sped under Tower Bridge on his way to the rendezvous. His boat was flanked by four other Royal Marine craft. His super-smooth image was only slightly spoiled by the fact that he was wearing a lifejacket.

As he walked up the gangplank he was ambushed by a barrage of questions. Asked how he was feeling about his new role, a beaming Craig replied: "I’m speechless at the moment."

Then he obligingly posed for photographers on deck, with his arms around Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

His first mission will be to star in the next movie - a remake based on the first ever Bond book, Casino Royale. It will be Bond's 21st outing.

At the press conference, Craig revealed that he has been a Bond fan since he was boy, and promised to take the role in a new direction.

Speaking about the challenge he faces taking on the job, he said: "I’ve just got to step up to the plate and deal with it."

Eyebrows have been raised that his own life does not fit the privileged Bond image. He attended a secondary modern in Cheshire and left school aged 16. Questioned about it, he said: "I don’t have many qualifications myself but hopefully I’ve got something I can bring to this."

He dodged a question about his private life when asked if he would prefer Kate Moss or Sienna Miller - two women who he has been linked with - as a Bond girl.

"I’m not going to get into that," he said.

He said he was always confident he would win the coveted role after the producers spent 18 months looking for a new star to replace Pierce Brosnan.

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