Why him? A character actor who blends into his roles, he’s been doing solid work for years – appearing in everything from The Commitments to various Star Trek spin-offs on telly.

He was most recently seen as Don Revie in The Damned United, and always brings something great to each role.

He’s got a touch of the Holm about him and could pull off the accent with ease.

Why not him? Chances are Guillermo del Toro will be looking for a younger actor.

Even given the Hobbit aging quirks (Bilbo is 51 in the book), he’s likely too old at 56 to make the cut. Which is a shame, since he’s great and would be a decidedly ballsy choice.

Entirely Unscientific Holm-Alike-O-Meter: ****