BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH has played detective and monster, barrister and scientist, politician and painter, comic and spy. Still only in his thirties, he has become one of Britain's foremost acting talents, excelling in theatre, television, radio and cinema. With a string of starring and supporting roles, he has portrayed contemporary icons, historical figures and fictional favourites, from Stephen Hawking, to William Pitt the Younger, to Frankenstein. He has become a radio comedy staple too, as the bungling airline pilot Captain Martin Crieff, in Radio 4's Cabin Pressure. But inevitably, he is still best known for his idiosyncratic and boldly 21st century incarnation of Sherlock Holmes in the BBC TV series, Sherlock. In this book, Justin Lewis traces Benedict Cumberbatch's career to date, from his early promise in Harrow School plays, through his first supporting roles in film, theatre and TV, to national and international acclaim. He examines his considerable contributions not only to Sherlock, but also to Sir Tom Stoppard's adaptation of Parade's End on television, and to feature films such as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Star Trek Into Darkness and War Horse.

Justin Lewis has been a writer, editor and researcher for over 20 years, specialising in music, broadcasting and entertainment. He has contributed to numerous publications, amongst them Guinness Publishing's British Hit Singles & Albums, Time Out's 1000 Songs to Change Your Life, and The Rough Guide to Rock, where he also served as contributing editor. He is co-author of Prime Minister, You Wanted to See Me? - the comprehensive history of the long-running BBC Radio 4 comedy series, Week Ending - and acted as consultant and researcher on Lucian Randall's acclaimed biography of Chris Morris, Disgusting Bliss. In addition he has worked as a radio presenter and columnist. He currently lives in South London.