Benedict Cumberbatch, the Sherlock actor, has been hailed a hero after leaping to the defence of a Deliveroo cyclist to help fight off a gang of muggers.

The 41-year-old reportedly said that he “had to” intervene after jumping out of an Uber taxi near his fictional character’s home in London’s Baker Street.

His actions meant the attackers fled, it was claimed, as he bravely fended the perpetrators off who allegedly smashed the cyclist over the head with a bottle.

According to witnesses, he dragged the four muggers off the victim, who was in his 20s, after screaming at them to leave him alone. One of the men had tried to steal the cyclist’s bike, but nothing was stolen.