Benedict Cumberbatch: Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch directs Cambridge Science Festival (CAMBRIDGE NEWS)

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is taking a leading role in this year’s Cambridge Science Festival.

The actor has agreed to be the festival’s guest director, which means he has been helping to put together the programme for the two-week event, which starts on March 11.

Mr Cumberbatch said: “I’m delighted to be the guest director of the 2013 Cambridge Science Festival.

“My link to a science festival may seem a little tenuous but, as an actor who has played Stephen Hawking, Heisenberg and Frankenstein, I’ve long had a passion for all fields of science.

"To a layperson like me the intellectual and ethical complexities and technical details can though seem daunting and distancing. Hence a festival of this range and accessibility is a hugely important bridge between the public and science.

READ MORE: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Sherlock-actor-Benedict-Cumberbatch-directs-Cambridge-Science-Festival-29012013.htm

Benedict Cumberbatch to test Sherlock skills as guest director of the Cambridge Science Festival (RADIO TIMES)

Paul Jones
12:17 PM, 21 January 2013

Benedict Cumberbatch has been named guest director of this year’s Cambridge Science Festival, and the Sherlock star says he’s particularly keen to attend two events that would be of interest to his detective alter ego.

“As someone who has portrayed Sherlock Holmes, I’m of course looking forward to [a talk] about why the violin is so hard to play," said Cumberbatch, who mimes to a professional musician when his character plays the instrument on the show.

"[And I'll be] testing my real-life deduction skills in the mock crime scene,” he added.

The actor also revealed how other roles had helped fuel his interest in science: “My link to a science festival may seem a little tenuous at first glance,” admitted Cumberbatch, “and yet as an actor who has researched playing Stephen Hawking, Joseph Hooker, Heisenburg and both Frankenstein and his creation I’ve long had a passion for all fields of science.”

READ MORE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-01-21/benedict-cumberbatch-to-test-sherlock-skills-as-guest-director-of-the-cambridge-science-festival