Benedict Cumberbatch Is Engaged And Announced It In The Most Cumberbatch Of Ways

Benedict Cumberbatch is off the market. This is not a drill.

Benedict Cumberbatch is engaged, ladies and gents.

The Sherlock actor announced his betrothal to Sophie Hunter in the most traditional of ways... with a small notice in the Forthcoming Marriages section of The Times.

The announcement reads: 'Mr BT. Cumberbatch and Miss S.I. Hunter: The engagement is announced between Benedict, son of Wanda and Timothy Cumberbatch of London, and Sophie, daughter of Katharine Hunter of Edinburgh and Charles Hunter of London.'

The actor's spokesperson has also confirmed the news, saying: 'I am delighted to confirm this morning’s announcement that Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter are engaged.'

It's thought that he's been dating the 36-year-old Oxford graduate, who is a theatre director and an actress, since the Spring.

A little bit of trivia for you: Sophie played Annabel Blythe-Smith to Cumberbatch’s Henry Clark in the thriller 'Burlesque Fairytales' in 2009 and studied French and Italian at Oxford before studying at the prestigious Jacques Lecoq school of theatre in Paris.

Asked earlier this year about the prospect of settling down, Benedict said: 'I can imagine I'll look back at this point in my life and think: "Wow that was really extraordinary." But at the same time I hope I'm looking back and going, "Oh, that was the moment I got on with life and realised things beyond myself."

'Without using words like 'marriage'. 'children' and 'family' - although I have just used those words - put it this way, I hope I've got other people to look back with me at that point. I hope I'm surrounded by family.'

Congrats to Benedict and Sophie. Hurrah for love.