Discovery To Re-Air BBC's 2004 'Hawking' With Benedict Cumberbatch As Stephen Hawking

On Sunday, Benedict Cumberbatch will go head to head with his compatriot Eddie Redmayne at the 2014 Golden Globe awards. Cumberbatch won lofty praise for his turn as the brilliant Alan Turing in 'The Imitation Game', while Eddie Redmayne's depiction of the equally brilliant Stephen Hawking has been the talk of Hollywood for months. But, somewhat serendipitously, Cumberbatch has already familiarized himself with the role that may very well snatch the award for Best Actor from his grasp. Back in 2004, Cumberbatch starred as the titular genius in BBC's 2004 production, 'Hawking', and watching it will surely send his legion of fans (I refuse to use their official term) into a frenzy.

With both Stephen Hawking and Benedict Cumberbatch's names set to feature heavily in the press this week (tomorrow is Hawking's 73rd birthday), Discovery have shrewdly decided to dust off their recording of Hawking and play it at 10pm ET this Sunday, right as the Golden Globes will be reaching their climax.

Hawking was written by Peter Moffat, and directed by Phillip Martin, and it received a number of BAFTA nominations with both Moffat and Cumberbatch nominated. Cumberbatch went on to win a Golden Nymph award for his portrayal, but I'll leave it up to you to decide if it holds up against Eddie Redmayne's remarkable performance....