I've been watching him work his way up in Brit TV melodramas and have admired his work.

I've gotten into the new Sherlock; I like Martin Freeman, the new Dildo Bugger Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit, as his Dr Watson, as well.

Cumberbatch played Peter Guillam , Smiley's No. 2, in the film version of Tinker Tailor, where he brought real depth to the role. He's not just Smiley's muscle and gofer, he has a highly complex personality that keeps his violence under careful control until he really needs it. Why the film makes him gay I haven't figured out yet, but I'm sure there was a perfectly sound dramatic reason for it.

When Smiley tells him that they're going after the Mole at the Circus, and that they can expect a counter-attack from Karla, he tells Guillam to clean up his domestic arrangements so they can't be used against him. Guillam has to go home and tell his homosexual partner that its all over, and he can't even tell him why. It's a very short scene, but quite powerful. I look forward to seeing more of him.