Benedict Cumberbatch helping Strictly Come Dancing’s Judge Rinder with his facial expressions

Benedict Cumberbatch has been helping his good friend Judge Rinder to work on his facial expressions on Strictly Come Dancing.

The TV judge even credited Cumberbatch’s work to helping him impress the judges with his Paso Doble on Halloween night.

Speaking to Zoe Ball on It Takes Two, Rinder said: “He did help me with some faces for my Paso Doble, to get into the dramatic performance of it and we improved that week, so…”

Cumberbatch – who officiated Rinder’s wedding – has been unable to watch his friend in action on the BBC Ballroom show – but Rinder teased a possible appearance soon.

“Sadly he’s been busy promoting Doctor Strange, but watch this space,” he said.

Despite being unable to attend, Cumberbatch did provide a running commentary of Rinder’s jive to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by The Andrew Sisters on the BBC Radio One Breakfast Show.

Cumberbatch provided witty one liners as he told listeners “he's kicking out, it's all good though - they're not kicking each other,” before adding: “We have a one handed cartwheel and his knees are going, his knees are going. That’s going to cost him in the morning.”

After wrapping up the commentary he praised Rinder and said: “He’s amazing he’s so good.”

Rinder will dance in Blackpool's iconic Tower Ballroom this weekend and has teased some "Spice Girls action".

But the TV star said rehearsals have been taking a toll on his body and revealed he struggled to sit in court this week.

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly he said: "I've been learning things that I haven't done for about 29 years, I hurt. I've been walking around like John Wayne.

"The other day I had to go and sit in court. To get up the stairs to the judges bench, I needed assistance from Michelle to sit down."

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