Benedict Cumberbatch — What? Benedict Cumberbatch? The guy’s as goofy looking as his name. What’s to love about a pasty thin British nub with moppy hair and a dorky smile? I mean, besides the voice. The sly demeanor. The glimmery eyes. The impeccable cheekbones. His cerebral approach to his craft. Maybe it’s his keen fashion sense, or maybe it’s just the scarf. Or maybe it’s because he’s the best goddamn Sherlock in the history of Sherlocks. In real life, the man was once kidnapped and locked into the trunk of his car by six men in South Africa, and he smart-talked his way out of the situation. Maybe it’s his appreciation for life bleeding through that people are drawn toward. God knows it wasn’t Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which was a total bore. Maybe, oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the man’s ass. Whatever it is, Benedict Cumberbatch is incredibly sexy almost in spite of himself, and to land in the Pajiba 10 looking like he does suggest there’s powerful forces at play in the soul of Cumberbatch, which makes him my favorite kind of Pajiba 10 entrant, a guy that will mind-f*ck you to ecstasy before he even removes your clothes.

I get an email informing me that Sherlock Holmes's coat is now available to buy. It's the one Benedict Cumberbatch modelled to excellent effect in the BBC series Sherlock; it's by Belstaff, it's called Milford and it costs £1,350, which is a hell of a lot of money. But then, it's a hell of a coat. Sharp, yet swishy. Dramatic. Dandy/manly. I really love that coat. I'd buy one for all my lovers, if I could afford to.

Admittedly, I could be somewhat influenced by the fact that I fancy the – well, the coat – off of Benedict Cumberbatch. My crush on him is vast, unlikely, and completely undeniable. It's also shamefully common; half the female population of the UK is similarly afflicted. Cumberbatch is fast becoming the thirtysomething bird's Robert Pattinson. "They should call us Deer Stalkers," texted my friend V. "Shut up, I've got ep three on iPlayer again," I responded. "I really like his nose, don't you?" It's getting a little out of hand.

I would have thought of nothing other than Cumberbatch, if I hadn't suddenly been overwhelmed by a desire to own a leather skater skirt.......[she goes onto discussing fashion]

During the director/actor commentary of Amazing Grace Benedict was mentioned a few times.

Michael Apted (MA): ...Benedict Cumberbatch, this is his first really big role, and what was so interesting, meeting him, was just like Wilberforce comes from a trading community, it was important that William Pitt came from nobility, and as soon as Benedict walked in, you knew,
Ioan Gruffudd (IG): Immediately. Yes, he has that sort of quality about him.
MA: He has class.
IG: Absolute class. Classy guy. Absolutely.
MA: It's hard to act that sort of stuff. So when I was doing all this casting, it was sort of crucial to me who actually had that innate breeding.

MA: Did you enjoy working with Benedict?
IG: I loved working with Benedict. We had a wonderful time. It's so important to have that relationship formed, so we did become very, very good friends. We see each other quite often, now.
MA: Did you work the same way?
IG: I think we do. I don't want to comment on his sort of process, but I think we both work, I mean, sort of from the outside in. I wouldn't necessairly call us both two method actors, you can't really...