Una Stubbs has revealed she's known Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch since he was a toddler.

The actress plays Sherlock's (Benedict) housekeeper Mrs Hudson in the hit BBC series, but told the TV Times she had known Britain's current favourite actor since long before he hit the big time.

She said: "I've known Benedict since he was a toddler because I worked with his mum, the actress Wanda Ventham, and we also lived near each other when our children were small. We'd bump into each other in the high street and the poor kids had to stand there while we gossiped!"

Una is currently filming the third series of Sherlock with Benedict and Martin Freeman, who plays Dr Watson.

She said: "When you're on a third series of something, you become very fond of the people you're working with, especially if they are as lovely as they are."