Benedict Cumberbatch announces engagement to girlfriend Sophie Hunter

The actor has kept his relationship with Sophie Hunter private
Mystery: Benedict and Sophie at a tennis match earlier this year (Photo credit: Rindoff/Charriau/French Select/Getty Images)
Emma Powell5 November 2014
The Weekender

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Benedict Cumberbatch has announced his engagement - by way of a personal notice in the Times.

According to the paper's social diary, the 38-year-old Sherlock star is engaged to his theatre director girlfriend Sophie Hunter.

Under 'Forthcoming Marriages' it reads, “Mr B. T. Cumberbatch and Miss S. I. Hunter” before continuing: “The engagement is announced between Benedict son of Wanda and Timothy Cumberbatch of London, and Sophie, daughter of Katharine Hunter of Edinburgh and Charles Hunter of London.”

Cumberbatch has kept any sign of a relationship out of the media spotlight since he was first spotted with Oxford-educated Hunter, 36, at a tennis match this summer.

Early days: the pair have reportedly only been dating since summer (Photo credit: Rindoff/Charriau/French Select/Getty Images)

The pair have since been seen at the National Theatre and enjoying a screening of Back to the Future at London’s Secret Cinema.

Earlier this year Cumberbatch described his ideal woman as someone with "conversation skills".

Lucky lady: Sophie at the Collective Dinner in London in May (Photo credit: REX)

He said: “A woman who knows that she doesn’t have to get all decked out to look good is sexy.

“A woman who can make you feel smart with her conversation skills is also sexy. I believe the sense of humour is important. I also think someone who is good at working with others is sexy.

“It’s like playing a tennis doubles match. You need to work well together if you are to stay partners for a long time.”

Although the actor’s agent has yet to confirm the engagement, fans are already tweeting the news online.

Some have described the announcement as classy tweeting, "He's just classy. Benedict Cumberbatch announces his engagement in The Times", while others are sad that the actor is now taken: “Benedict Cumberbatch is engaged, MY LIFE IS OVER.”

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