Benedict Cumberbatch, everybody's favourite modern Sherlock (sorry Jonny Lee) has, in the words of co-star Louise Brealey, become "a megastar" of late. Along with fellow 221B Baker Street resident Martin Freeman, Cumberbatch has broken Hollywood in a big way, lining up roles in JJ Abrams' Star Trek sequel and The Hobbit films this year.
Today though, Cumberbatch's ascendancy stateside is well and truly cemented, as news arrives that he's to make a guest appearance in The Simpsons, an honour shared by the UK's Ricky Gervais, Tony Blair, Tom Jones, Eric Idle, Jeremy Irons and more...
It's not thought that Cumberbatch will be playing Sherlock in the episode (something of a waste, that), but an unconfirmed character. The actor came to the role fortuitously by being in the right place at the right time, the way he tells it:
"I was at a meeting in the same place The Simpsons is recorded and heard there was a part going in an episode. I said 'I hate to muscle in here guys but could I record it?' Next thing, I'm standing in a room with all those famous voices; Bart, Marge, Homer, Lisa."
