Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter welcome baby boy

Benedict Cumberbatch and wife Sophie Hunter have welcomed a baby son, a spokesperson for the couple has confirmed.

"Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter are delighted to announce the arrival of their beautiful son," the actor's representative said in a statement. "We would kindly ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during these next few precious weeks."

The 38-year-old Sherlock star and his theatre director wife tied the knot back in February on Valentine's Day.

The couple's relationship was revealed after the Imitation Game actor's parents announced the wedding news in the Forthcoming Marriage section of the Times newspaper.

''I've had the most important news of my life," Cumberbatch said at the time.

''That's also sort of private, I don't want to talk about that too much. But my engagement to the woman I love is obviously the most important thing of 2014 for me.''

Meanwhile, Cumberbatch previously expressed his desire to have a lot of children.

"I was happy as an only child, but I've always wanted to be part of a bigger family," he said in 2013.

"I would love to have children," he added. "Everyone wants to know when I'm going to settle down and who is going to be Mrs Cumberbatch. I can't wait to do an interview like this and just talk about my child."