HOW MICK ALMOST GOT CLOCKWORK ROLE

But the iconic role nearly went to Mick Jagger, it has emerged.

At the Cannes Film Festival, McDowell, 63, said: “I can reveal for the first time that The Rolling Stones used to own the rights to Anthony Burgess’s book before director Stanley Kubrick got hold of it and cast me as Alex.

“Thank God no one ever gave the Stones the money to make it because Mick Jagger had set his heart on playing Alex the rapist and murderer and the rest of the band were going to be his hit squad The Droogs. Can you believe it?”

Added the Leeds-born actor: “Thankfully for the history of cinema and music, I got the role which turned out to make my career and Mick went on to be Sir Mick. I don’t think it would have gone that way if he’d been Alex!”