Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed deciding to be an actor came as a huge shock to his beloved parents after they splashed out on a lavish boarding school education.

It's been a year since Channel Nine's Amber Sherlock famously berated her colleague Julie Snook for wearing the same-coloured outfit on TV, demanding she put a jacket on.  

She was famously lambasted by her fellow Nine newsreader Amber Sherlock for wearing an outfit that was too similar to hers. 

The Sherlock actor, 43, pulled funny faces and made himself cross-eyed as he chatted with his family on the phone while standing on a balcony at his hotel in Southend on Friday.

The co-production, written by Sherlock creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, will star Claes Bang in the lead role as the eponymous evil vampire.

The former Doctor Who showrunner, 58, and his co-creator, 53, revealed the mini-series is 'not for kids' because of its gore, as they spoke with the Radio Times magazine on Tuesday.

Sherlock creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat created a darkly entertaining schlock-horror fest that plays out over three 90-minute episodes, starring Claes Bang as Dracula (pictured).

The actor, 48, appeared as Captain Sokolov in the Bram Stoker adaptation's second episode Blood Vessel, which aired on Thursday.

By strange happenstance, Guy Ritchie's new film is full of actors I haven't always been very complimentary about being really rather good - with one disappointing exception.

 A service station ice dealer cops the Jim Carrey edit, a 48-year-old woman invents a verb for menopause and the internet goes Sherlock Holmes on a woman's age.

TV crime drama Miss Scarlet And The Duke mixes elements of Ripper Street, Sherlock Holmes and Peaky Blinders, but gives the whole package a distinctively feminine touch.

The Sherlock star - who shares his two children with ex-partner Amanda Abbington - chatted to the youngsters while strolling through the relatively empty streets of the capital, on Monday

Germany signed off for the summer holidays with an 8-0 rout of Estonia on Tuesday, keeping the side on track for qualification for the 2020 European Championship with its third win from three games.

The German is now set to join up with the Premier League champions for their pre-season tour of Asia and will be a part of their squad for the coming season. Sane was Bayern Munich's prime target.

The German midfielder has proved to be an influential figure of Pep Guardiola's team over the last couple of seasons as they went on to claim back-to-back Premier League titles.

ADAM SHERGOLD: Coach Joachim Low was ruthless with his refresh of the German team following their humiliations in the World Cup and Nations League last year.

Two two defenders went head-to-head when Holland took on Germany in a Euro 2020 qualifier last Friday night, with Van Dijk's side coming out on top in an enthralling 4-2 victory.

Bayern Munich shot-stopper Manuel Neuer, who remains Germany's No 1 under Joachim Low, has told the Barcelona star to accept his bit-part role for the national team.

KIT HOLDEN: In the end, Marc-Andre ter Stegen let his actions speak louder than words. On Tuesday evening, the Barcelona keeper was indefatigable.

Neuer and German goalkeeping rival Marc-Andre ter Stegen have been involved in a petty war of words recently over the No 1 spot, with the latter becoming frustrated with a lack of game time.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen will be given his opportunity to impress on the international stage this month after Joachim Low confirmed that he will share the No 1 duties between his two top stars.

If you were looking for a bit more proof as to how prepared Joachim Low is in ripping up old blueprints and working towards a different plan then this performance came close to providing it.

The 31-year-old insists he has no regrets over the snap, which saw him become the target of racist abuse in the wake of Germany's shock World Cup exit in 2018.

Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac has refused to back down after infuriating the club's own fanbase, by claiming his former side Eintracht Frankfurt have the Bundesliga's best supporters.

Experienced German centre-back Antonio Rudiger has played just 45 minutes all season for Chelsea after undergoing surgery on his knee back in April.

BUNDESLIGA PREVIEW: The first 'Klassiker' derby of the season is upon us with the title race set for a huge shake up. A crunch meeting of relegation candidates also awaits. Sportsmail examines.

The Manchester City star is believed to be closing in on a return to his home country, with reports in Germany on Wednesday claiming that he wants to join Bayern Munich in January.

Thomas Muller has responded to Joachim Low by revealing he remains angry after the Germany coach said it's unlikely the Bayern Munich star would earn a recall. 

Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas has confirmed that the Ligue 1 club plans to launch two legal fights after the season was ended early.

Only individual Premier League players who test positive for coronavirus will be quarantined rather than whole squads as plans for Project Restart gather pace.

Emil Forsberg believes Sweden would undoubtedly have a better chance at success this World Cup had Zlatan Ibrahimovic been in the squad, despite getting off to a winning start.

Toni Kroos scored a last-gasp winner to keep Germany's World Cup hopes alive against Sweden on Saturday night. Germany's dramatic win was, unsurprisingly, a hot topic on social media.

Toni Kroos has praised his Germany team-mates for their second-half performance against Sweden on Saturday which saw them come from a goal down to win in the last minute. 

Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic hung up his international boots following Euro 2016 in France, scoring a record 62 times in 116 appearances for Sweden.

At each of the 48 matches played — and the 16 still scheduled between now and July 15 — four players have been tested, with each sample being sent to a World Anti-Doping Association.

IAN LADYMAN AT SAINT PETERSBURG STADIUM: With two minutes of this game remaining and with Sweden in the lead, their forward Ola Toivonen tried to play the ball against an opponent for a corner. 

England and Sweden will meet on Saturday, with Janne Andersson's side ranked as the underdogs ahead of the clash in Samara. Sportsmail takes a closer look at the Three Lions' next opponents.

Swedish football fans - one of whom is an MP - said their team will defeat England in the World Cup on Saturday as they referenced a massacre in 793.

James Milner has revealed that he is excited to get the pre-season underway but insists their first fixtures has ruined his World Cup wall chart as Liverpool's first friendly clashes with England's quarter-final.

It was an eventful game on the pitch but there were a number of events taking place off it as well. From a spare Gareth Southgate in the stands to how fans tried to keep up to date at wedding ceremonies.

Turkey substitute Emre Akbaba got two late goals to snatch a stunning 3-2 win over Sweden in the Nations League as the visitors recovered from two goals down at the Friends Arena on Monday.

PETE JENSON: Martin Odegaard used to train with Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo through the week and then play with the B-team Real Madrid Castilla at the weekends.

Sweden striker Alexander Isak was subjected to racist abuse by Romania fans during his side's 2-0 win. The game was stopped by the referee as the first step of UEFA's protocol.

The 38-year-old striker, who rejoined the club on December 27 in a surprise switch, will have his contract automatically extended for a season should Milan qualify for the Champions League.

Heather Watson is part of a new crop of players that have recently re-energised the British game. Katie Nicholl meets the British tennis star who's aceing it on and off Centre Court

The athlete, 28, has revealed that her family members and close friends have failed to recognise her when she is out of her tennis whites.

There is plenty of British interest on the second day at Wimbledon - and Sportsmail is here to bring you all the action once again. JAMES DUTTON keeps you up to date.

It's another exciting day of action at Wimbledon - and Sportsmail is once again on hand to guide you through everything. Day four includes the likes of Rafael Nadal, Jo Konta and Andy Murray!

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT WIMBLEDON: Konta battled back from a set down to sink Stephens and reach the last 16 at Wimbledon. The British No 1 appeared to be heading to defeat but fought back.

MIKE DICKSON ON CENTRE COURT: It started with the Centre Court crowd tittering at the velvety baritone of umpire Nouni, and ended with them roaring Konta into the quarter finals.