Benedict Cumberbatch also acts as executive producer on Patrick Melrose (Picture: Sky)

Benedict stars in and produces Sky drama Patrick Melrose about a man who, haunted by his memories of an abusive childhood, starts a downward spiral into addiction.

The Sherlock actor has always wanted to adapt the books by Edward St Aubyn, and after posting it online he was approached by producers Michael Jackson and Rachael Horovitz, who have the rights to the books.

He said: ‘Michael Jackson and Rachael Horovitz had the rights to the Patrick Melrose series of books by Edward St Aubyn and they came to me. I knew there’d be a broad bracket of actors who had also probably read the books and gone, “Hmm, wouldn’t mind a stab at that.”



‘I was just very, very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I voiced my desire on a Reddit forum and I got a call!


‘They wanted to meet when I was in New York, we had a breakfast and I was a little late and terrified as I was still rushing rereading the final two novels the night before and morning of the meeting!

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‘I hadn’t clocked they were only thinking about me for the role at that stage and so I was still nervous even when they were very clearly pitching their ideas about adapting these extraordinary books for television.’

Patrick Melrose also stars Allison Williams and Jennifer Jason Leigh (Picture: MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock)

Benedict with his missus Sophie Hunter and the Patrick Melrose premiere (Picture: MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock)

Cumberbatch also spoke to some addicts as part of his research into the character, and learnt how to ‘shoot up’ heroin in order to understand ‘the drive behind the addiction’.

‘With heroin, pretty much everyone I’ve spoken to says it’s about the warm embrace you never got from your mother,’ he explained.

‘[Patrick] is a very well-heeled and experienced junkie by the time we meet him. So learning how to shoot up and what the effect is on the body and mind was of paramount importance.’

Patrick Melrose airs 13 May at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.

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