Benedict Cumberbatch may quit Baker Street for US

Star of the hit television series Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, has told the Radio Times that he is considering emigrating to America to get away from the constant griping about his privileged background.

The actor, who also starred in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, said he was fed up of the posh-bashing which occurs in the UK. Although he was educated at Harrow, the 36-year-old insisted that he was not born into new money, titles or land, and that his parents, both actors, did not own an oil rig.

Cumberbatch added that he did not like the way in which he had been labelled a wealthy public-school bastard who went around complaining about the fact that he was only being offered posh roles.

He said that it was domestic, dumb and predictable and that he had seriously considered moving abroad. The voice of the dragon Smaug in the Peter Jackson directed Hobbit films did however admit that the fame Sherlock had brought him was flattering. He said it was enjoyable and gave him a spring in his step.

He also admitted that he had been extremely fortunate recently in the film roles he had been given and that he was seriously punching above his weight. Something he finds hysterically funny and which he wields with a huge grin.