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It's not every day you bump into one of the UK's biggest actors having Sunday lunch at your local pub.

But that's exactly what happened today as Benedict Cumberbatch popped into The Plough and Harrow pub in Monknash, in the Vale of Glamorgan .

The A-list actor, who has starred in the likes of The Jungle Book and The Hobbit, was filming in the area for what we believe to be (or at least hope to be) the new series of Sherlock.

He was also recently spotted on Tenby's South Beach filming for the award-winning BBC One drama.

The Plough and Harrow's owner, Paula Jones, who is celebrating her birthday this weekend, said the famous visit was a lovely birthday surprise.

She said: "Benedict popped in with his family for a bit of Sunday dinner and he was absolutely lovely.

"He posed for pictures with people and signed autographs.

"He told us he was filming in the area - a lot of production crews use Nashpoint as a backdrop.

"I don't know exactly what he had to eat but I had a good chat with him. He was lush."

(Image: Peter Wasp/Creative Commons)

The Plough and Harrow, which regularly features in “best pub” lists, has been in the village of Monknash for hundreds of years, with the building dating back to the 14th Century.

The Vale of Glamorgan pub is well known for real ales and freshly-cooked food.

It has previously seen the likes of Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood and the First Minister Carwyn Jones pop in for food.

Benedict Cumberbatch filming Sherlock in Cardiff