Tom Cruise reportedly returned to the UK just in time to avoid the government's new quarantining rules coming into force this week.

From Monday, all new arrivals into the UK through flights and other means will be required to self-isolate for a period of two weeks as part of an effort to keep the spread of coronavirus as low as possible.

Hollywood superstar Cruise will not be required to spend a fortnight in quarantine, however, having touched down at Biggin Hill airport on Sunday night.

According to The Sun, Cruise took an 11-hour private flight from Florida to the UK and was promptly whisked to a rented apartment in London upon arrival.

The 57-year old is back in the country to resume work on Mission: Impossible 7 after filming was halted by the pandemic in March.

The newspaper says that he will be transported to and from the film's new set in Oxfordshire by helicopter every day during the shoot.

"It's no accident Tom arrived on Sunday night - they didn't want their leading man locked away on his own for 14 days," said a source.

"There have already been so many delays to the film and everyone is keen to get it up and running at the first possible second, so slipping in before the quarantine rules came in on Monday made sense.

"Hopefully it will mean the film can get back on track and finished without any more delays."

The new film, which is being shot back to back with the eighth movie in the franchise, is due for release in November 2021.