AS British actor Benedict Cumberbatch announced his engagement to theater director Sophie Hunter in the marriages section of The Times on Wednesday, thousands of hearts shattered across the world.

    The notice said simply: “Mr. BT. Cumberbatch and Miss S.I. Hunter: The engagement is announced between Benedict, son of Wanda and Timothy Cumberbatch of London, and Sophie, daughter of Katharine Hunter of Edinburgh and Charles Hunter of London.”

    Cumberbatch’s spokeswoman, Karon Maskill, confirmed the engagement.

    Hours after the announcement, the Internet was alight with wailing women, especially his group of most diehard fans, who call themselves “The Cumberbitches.”

    The British actor has long been seen as one of the hottest bachelors of the show biz world, with his accomplished career, good looks and school boy charm.

    As the tweets and Facebook messages started flooding in, they included messages like: “One of the Cumberbatch is engaged. She is Sophie Hunter. More like Sophie Hunt-her. #cumberbitches.”

    Another wrote: “Cumberbatch is engaged. Internet explodes. Girl goes into hiding from swarths of #cumberbitches.”

    Cumberbatch, 38, is known for playing complicated but brilliant figures such as Sherlock Holmes and computing pioneer Alan Turing.

    Hunter, 36, is known for directing avant-garde plays, including a puppet version of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition. She has appeared as an actor in films including the 2004 adaptation of “Vanity Fair” starring Reese Witherspoon. She and Cumberbatch appeared together in the 2009 thriller “Burlesque Fairytales.” The couple have been dating for several months.(SD-Agencies)