Friday Man Babe - Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch was born on 19 July 1976 in London, England. He is the son of actors Timothy Carlton (birth name Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch) and Wanda Ventham.

Cumberbatch was educated at two independent schools: first at Brambletye School in West Sussex, and then at the prestigious Harrow School in northwest London, where he began performing as an actor. After graduation, he took a gap year to teach English in a Tibetan monastery. He then attended the University of Manchester, where he studied drama. At the university, he met his longtime girlfriend, actress Olivia Poulet.^[1]^[2] After graduating, Cumberbatch trained further in acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Cumberbatch narrated the 6-part series South Pacific (U.S. title: Wild Pacific), which aired May to June 2009 on BBC 2. In May 2009 BBC Radio 4 broadcast an adaptation of John Mortimer's novel Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders. Cumberbatch played the "young Rumpole", and Timothy West took the part of the "old Rumpole".

Cumberbatch, a fan of long-running British science fiction show Doctor Who, suggested in a July 2010 interview that he would be interested in appearing as a main or recurring character on the show, run by Sherlock producer and personal friend Steven Moffat.^[8] In 2008 he had discussed with David Tennant The Doctor but had decided not to try for the role.^[9]

In 2010, Cumberbatch began playing Sherlock Holmes in the first season of the BBC television series Sherlock, to critical acclaim.^[10]^[11] His 2010 performance as Vincent van Gogh in Van Gogh: Painted with Words, was also much admired.