Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock is named the world's favourite BBC TV character in new poll
Get celebs updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Sherlock' s Benedict Cumberbatch has said he is honoured that the "sociopath" detective has been named the world's favourite BBC TV character.
And although Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's sleuth had some stiff competition from the likes of Fawlty Towers' Basil Fawlty, the Doctor in Doctor Who and Hyacinth Bucket, Mr. Holmes managed to bag the accolade.
The grand title comes after BBC Worldwide surveyed more than 7,000 18 to 64-year-olds from seven countries, including Australia, France, the US and Japan, with almost 30% of them all backing Cumberbatch 's Sherlock.
Coming in at number two was the Doctor (most recently portrayed by Peter Capaldi), while Idris Elba's gritty murder-squad detective, DCI John Luther, came in third.
(Photo: PA)
Benedict, 40, also snagged top-prize for most memorable scene as Sherlock for his fall to apparent death at the end of the show's second series.
It was named the most iconic BBC moment with a whopping 26% of the vote, finishing ahead of Monty Python's famous Dead Parrot sketch in second.
Colin Firth's Mr Darcy emerging topless from the lake in Pride And Prejudice also made the top 10 in fifth while David Brent's improvised dance at a comic relief party in The Office came in eighth.
Cumberbatch said: "I'm honoured to hear that my portrayal of Sherlock has been internationally recognised as viewers' favourite BBC TV character.
(Photo: PA)
"Who would have thought a high-functioning sociopath could be so popular with people all over the world?"
The contemporary reimagining of Conan Doyle's Sherlock, co-starring Martin Freeman as Dr Watson, has been sold by the BBC to 240 territories internationally.
The series, created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, has received numerous accolades since its debut on the BBC in 2010.
Earlier this year the fourth series, rumoured to be its last, benefited from one of the biggest boosts in ratings ever caused by people recording a TV programme and watching it later.
(Photo: PA)
(Photo: PA)
The series' penultimate episode, broadcast on January 8, had an overnight audience of just six million in Britain.
But consolidated ratings published, which include those who recorded the show and saw it later, bumped the figure up to 9.5 million.
Paul Dempsey, BBC Worldwide president of global markets, said: "This survey demonstrates the love and affection audiences have for our shows around the world and those defining TV moments that get viewers talking, wherever they are."
The research was carried out in the lead-up to the BBC Worldwide Showcase 2017 which takes place between February 19 and February 22.
Favourite British BBC Characters
1. Sherlock 29.7%
2. The Doctor 17.6%
3. Luther 12.4%
4. Basil Fawlty 11.8%
5. The Stig 8.2%
6. Patsy Stone 8.1%
7. Edmund Blackadder 7.4%
8. Hyacinth Bucket 6.1%
9. Vicar of Dibley 5.8%
10. The Daleks 5.6%
Most Iconic BBC Moments
1. Sherlock falling to his "death" 26.0%
2. Monty Python dead parrot sketch 14.1%
3. The Doctor's regeneration in Doctor Who 13.1%
4. The ballroom scene with Prince Andrei and Natasha in War And Peace 12.6%
5. Mr Darcy emerging from the lake in Pride and Prejudice 12.5%
6. Basil Fawlty attacking his car in Fawlty Towers 11.5%
7. Sir David Attenborough and the gorillas in Life on Earth 10.2%
8. David Brent dancing in The Office 9.5%
9. When the murderer comes from out of the bed in Luther 6.53%
10. "Don't tell him, Pike" in Dad's Army 6.50%