British actor Benedict Cumberbatch was joined onscreen by his real life parents in a new episode of Tv detective series Sherlock.

The Star Trek Into Darkness star reprised his role as Sherlock Holmes for the latest installment in the popular show, which aired in the U.K. on New Year's Day (01Jan14), and it emerged that his mother and father joined their son in the special episode.

Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, who are both actors, played Holmes' parents.

Cumberbatch says of their appearance in Sherlock, "(I was) so proud of them. They're Equity (actors union) card-carrying members but you know it was nerve-wracking because they are actors as well and yet they were brilliant and they were fantastic."