Television

Parade’s End

"One of the finest things the BBC has ever made. – Grace Dent in The Independent"

Parade’s End stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Christopher Tietjens, a deeply honourable man who finds himself the unlikely centre of a love triangle. His wife Sylvia (Rebecca Hall) is mercurial and adulterous and while separated briefly from her he meets the idealistic young suffragette Valentine Wannop (Adelaide Clemens). He cares for his wife but his heart belongs to Valentine. But with World War I and the horrors of the Western Front looming in his future will life for Christopher ever be the same again?

Adapted by Sir Tom Stoppard from Ford Madox Ford’s tetralogy of novels into a 5 part series Parade’s End was produced by Mammoth Screen and aired to immense critical acclaim. It features an ensemble cast which is a veritable Who’s Who of British acting talent: Anne Marie-Duff, Roger Allam, Stephen Graham, Rupert Everett, Rufus Sewell, Miranda Richardson and Freddie Fox.

Parade’s End won best tv drama at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards beating tough competition. Parade’s End was also honoured with four Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for best drama series, best actor for Benedict Cumberbatch (winning jointly for his portrayal of both Christopher Tietjens and Sherlock), best actress for Rebecca Hall for her stunning portrayal of Sylvia Tietjens and best writer for Sir Tom Stoppard.

Sherlock
"As good as it’s possible for television to be: other programme-makers must have been biting their wrists in a combination of jealousy and awe – Caitlin Moran – The Times"

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock, the BBC’s modern day imagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective. Co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss and co-starring Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) as John Watson series 1 aired in summer 2010 to instant critical acclaim and huge numbers. Series 2 debuted in January 2012 to viewing figures in excess of 10 million and glowing reviews.

The series has been showered in awards nominations.

To date for playing Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch has received two BAFTA Nominations for best actor (2012) & (2011), an Emmy nomination for best actor in a mini series or movie (2012), Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a mini series or movie (2013), Broadcasting Press Guild Award nomination for best actor (jointly with Parade’s End) (2013), Broadcast Award nomination for best actor (2013), Virgin Media Award for best actor (2013), National Television Awards nomination for best actor (2013 and 2010), Critics Choice Award for best actor in a mini series (2012), Satellite Award for best actor in a mini series or movie (2012), TV Choice Award for best actor (2012), PAAFTJ Award for best cast in a mini series or movie (2012), Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actor (2011- awarded for both Sherlock & Van Gogh: Painted with Words) and two Crime Thriller Awards for best actor (2012 and 2010).

The Rattigan Enigma

In this BBC 4 documentary Benedict Cumberbatch explored the life of Terrence Rattigan.

Rattigan was the master of the ‘well crafted play’ of upper class manners and repressed sexuality and he dominated the West End theatre scene throughout the 40s and early 50s. But then, in the mid fifties ‘the angry young men arrived’; a wave of young playwrights and directors who introduced a new, radical style of theatre. Rattigan’s work faced a critical onslaught and he fell completely out of fashion. But now, in his centenary year his plays are enjoying a huge revival.

But Rattigan himself remains an enigmatic figure – a troubled homosexual whose polite, restrained dramas confronted the very issues – sexual frustration, failed relationships, adultery and even suicide – that he found so difficult to deal with in his own life. He had a gift for commercial theatre but yearned to be taken seriously as a playwright.

In this film Benedict re-visits his old school Harrow where Rattigan was also educated and was first inspired to write plays. He takes a trip down memory lane with one of Rattigan’s closest friends (Princess Jean Galizine) and he talks to playwrights, critics and directors (including Thea Sharrock who directed Benedict in After the Dance) about what it is about Rattigan’s work which we find so appealing today.

Unfortunately the documentary is not available to buy on dvd.

Van Gogh: Painted with Words

Benedict Cumberbatch starred as Vincent Van Gogh in this BBC drama documentary presented by Alan Yentob.
Every word spoken by the actors in the piece was sourced from the letters that Van Gogh sent to his younger brother Theo.
Benedict Cumberbatch won a Broadcasting Press Guild Award in 2011 for his performances in Vincent Van Gogh: Painted with Words and Sherlock.

Unfortunately the drama is not available to purchase.

Small Island

Benedict Cumberbatch starred as Bernard, husband to Queenie (double Olivier award winning Ruth Wilson) in Small Island – a tale of Jamaican immigrants set in London in 1948.
Starring Naomie Harris as Hortense Joseph (Skyfall, Elizabeth in Frankenstein at the National Theatre) Small Island was adapted from the best selling novel by Andrea Levy.

Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for a BAFTA award in 2010 for best supporting actor for his role in the show.

 Source: benedictcumberbatch.co.uk