Cumberbatch has a half-sister who is 18 years older than him, by his mother’s first marriage – ‘She baby-sat me’ – but admits that he was as spoilt as if he were an only child. ‘Although “spoilt” implies that you’re ruined… I didn't have to fight for my proportion of love, attention and food or the things you have to do in larger families. All of their resources were poured into me for my education [Cumberbatch went to Harrow]. But I was aware of that. I would have loved to have had brothers or sisters, or so I thought at the time. I was always very gregarious, and I don’t think they would have sent me to boarding school if I wasn’t confident with stepping away from the nest. I love them, and I always returned to the nest with great joy.’