Top 5 Sherlock Cameos And Guest Stars

When the show’s creators needed to cast parents for Sherlock and Mycroft, it became quite a quick and easy job… given that they need look no further than Benedict Cumberbatch’s real-life mum and dad. Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton are actually reasonably well-known actors themselves – although their fame falls a little short of their son’s – but they seem the perfect pair to play Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. Their sweet disposition doesn’t exactly match the frantic feeling that follows their on-screen offspring around, but that just makes them even better characters – central to some especially memorable scenes.

It was easy to miss the famous illusionist when he appeared early on in the season three opener, as part of one of Sherlock’s supposed death scenarios. The ever-suspicious Anderson just doesn’t believe that Sherlock really did die after the events of “The Reichenbach Fall”, and one explanation he gives for the fakery is that Derren Brown hypnotized John into believing it. In fairness, the theory is probably one of the more feasible ways that events could’ve played out, given Brown’s real-world fame for achieving the impossible.

Probably best known for his role as Dean Thomas in the “Harry Potter” film series, Alfred Enoch also has an episode of “Sherlock” stored away in his back-catalogue. Playing guardsman, Stephen Bainbridge in “The Sign of Three”, he’s central to a long-winded anecdote by Holmes, delivered during the best man’s speech on John’s wedding day. Enoch’s character calls Sherlock to help with a stalker. But, as with every other case he takes on, nothing is quite as it seems. The mystery is apparently unsolvable at first, but then Sherlock is struck by a moment of inspiration, and Stephen Bainbridge’s death finally makes sense!

This really was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo, but we know it happened because Paul Weller himself confirmed it! As the third and final episode in season four, “The Final Problem” sees Sherlock, Watson and Mycroft become embroiled in an elaborate and dangerous game – presided over by Sherlock and Mycroft’s sister, Eurus. Though a divisive storyline with fans and critics, Weller’s fleeting role doesn’t come until a montage right at the very end – which sees the Jam frontman dressed as a Viking, as John administers first aid. Now, that really is entertainment.

Playing sly journalist, Kitty Riley, comedy actress Katherine Parkinson shows up in a bathroom in “The Reichenbach Fall”. As you’ve likely already deduced, Parkinson also plays Jen in “The IT Crowd”, and there are some similarities between that character and this. Namely, both are willing to lie to get what they want; as in Jen’s over embellished CV, and Kitty’s dressing up as a Sherlock super fan to snag an interview with the master mystery-solver. This scene is arguably one of the best in the entire series, though, leading to fans frequently calling for Kitty’s return to the show.