Benedict Cumberbatch was playing very coy last night on the red carpet at the Moet British Independent Film Awards.

Asked about the prospect of taking his hit stage play Frankenstein, where he swapped roles daily with co-star Johnny Lee Miller, to Broadway, the Sherlock star replied with a poker face, "Am I? We'll have to see about that..."

When it was pointed out to him that the Manhattan move had been reported in the press, Cumberbatch kept his sang froid:

"Well, it says a lot of things in the press. What did I hear the other day? Oh yes, apparently I'm playing Elton John. That's just ridiculous. Nobody's ever talked about that."

You heard it here first, people.

Cumberbatch was nominated as Best Supporting Actor at last night's event, for his role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but was pipped to the award by Michael Smiley in Kill List.

The cream of British screen were all there last night - check out our Slideshow of the great and good at the Moet British Independent Film Awards...

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Kenneth Brannagh attends The Moet British Independent Film Awards at Old Billingsgate Market in London, England. Photo: Getty Images