Sherlock bosses deemed ‘ginger and weird’ Benedict Cumberbatch not 'SEXY' enough for role
SHERLOCK bosses almost did not cast Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role because they did not think he was “sexy”.
Excitement for Sherlock fans as NYD return confirmed
Although producers agreed that the actor should definitely be in the show, they were unsure about the way his nose looked.
Mark Gatiss, creator of the hit BBC detective series, revealed that the now much-loved star did not make much of an impression when he first turned up at his audition.
”When we presented Ben on his audition day, everyone at the BBC agreed he's definitely got to be in it," Gatiss explained at the Celebration of Sherlock event (via The Sunday Mirror). "And then they went, 'We were promised a sexy one though.'"
A sort of ginger weird person
The Mycroft actor continued: "And we didn't say, 'Yeah he is sexy,' we went, 'He's very good isn't he?' And Benedict to this day doesn't think of himself as sexy.
"His nose was entirely wrong apparently. We thought if only we could get the nose right we might have something. The truth is, this isn't made up."
However, as Cumberbatch began to show the BBC bosses his unique take on Arthur Conan Doyle's detective, he secured the part.
Gatiss said: ”As he walked through into 221B Baker Street it all changed. He was a weird man a few minutes ago, a sort of ginger weird person. But that disappeared.
"It was the thing that suddenly worked with Colin Firth with Mr Darcy."
Cumberbatch has since proved a huge hit with viewers and has gained an army of loyal fans, who call themselves “Cumberb*****s”.
Sherlock will return on January 1 at 8.30pm on BBC One.