Benedict Cumberbatch is engaged, parents announce in newspaper ad

Benedict Cumberbatch has gone back to tradition to announce his engagement to his girlfriend Sophie Hunter. The British actor’s parents have put a message in The Times newspaper to tell the world that their son will marry the theatre director. The announcement in the Forthcoming Marriages section reads: “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.”

I am delighted to confirm this morning’s announcement that Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter are engaged.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s publicist speaking to Sky News

The couple have kept their relationship very private and are rarely photographed in public together. In June they were pictured at the French Open and have been seen leaving restaurants in London in recent weeks. Fans spotted the news of the engagement on Twitter with many saying it was a “classy” way for a celebrity to do it. Cumberbatch, 38, is currently starring in “The Imitation Game”, a biopic based on the World War Two code breaker Alan Turing, which is released on 14 November. He is due to play “Hamlet” at the Barbican in London next year and tickets have already sold out. Hunter, who at 36 is two years younger than her fiance, is renowned in the theatre world and has also taken acting roles in Doctor Who spin-off “Torchwood” and the 2004 film version of “Vanity Fair” starring Reese Witherspoon.

Benedict Cumberbatch engaged? Not words I want to hear right now, tbh.

@fauxhito, a fan of the star, on Twitter