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"Benedict Cumberbatch has discussed his role in Parade&amp;#039;s End.  The actor, who plays disgruntled aristocrat Christopher Tietjens in the new BBC Two five-part series, said that the role is not generally the type he takes on despite popular opinion.    Asked about his tendency to take on high class roles, Cumberbatch told Shortlist: &amp;quot;Ah, but it&amp;#039;s a fat one this time. That&amp;#039;s the difference. Seriously though, despite people&amp;#039;s opinions, I haven&amp;#039;t played that many aristocrats and landed gentry.  &amp;quot;Admittedly I do talk fast because I&amp;#039;m a public schoolboy, but I haven&amp;#039;t even done many period dramas. I&amp;#039;ve oscillated between the First World War and the Georgian period. That&amp;#039;s my niche.&amp;quot; Cumberbatch also revealed what drew him to the role, crediting writer Tom Stoppard and co-star Rebecca Hall with piquing his interest.  &amp;quot;Tom came and had tea with me at the National Theatre, which is always quite seductive. As soon as he asked me if I wanted a biscuit with my tea, I knew what was going on,&amp;quot; he recalled. &amp;quot;Rebecca, who&amp;#039;s a really good friend, sort of talked me around too. But really it&amp;#039;s the book [by Ford Madox Ford]. It&amp;#039;s the first modernist novel and it takes in consumerism, the First World War and the death throes of the upper classes through the prism of this love triangle. It&amp;#039;s incredible.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a402615/parades-end-benedict-cumberbatch-i-havent-played-many-aristocrats/>