Ever since Benedict Cumberbatch appeared on the red carpet with his fiancée Sophie Hunter at the Palm Springs International Film Festival over the weekend, the rumour mill has been fuelled by ‘bump alert!’ whispers.

The bag in front of the stomach is a dead giveaway, no?

Now a representitive for Cumberbatch has confirmed the imminent Cumberbaby, saying: 'I am delighted to confirm that Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter are expecting their first child. They are both over the moon.' 

Naturally, we aren’t surprised one bit by the news. After ELLE Editorial Project Director Annabel Brog returned from interviewing Cumberbatch for our December 2014 cover interview, she told us. 'I didn't ask outright, but I'm telling you now that man is madly in love, and his girlfriend is either pregnant or they are planning a baby.'

The clues: firstly, his misty eyed look when discussing love; and secondly, the unexpoected level of interest he took in hearing what it's like for a woman to be pregnant and have a small baby, and what sort of support she needs from the father. 

‘Benedict is after the fairy tale. He has been open in the past about wanting marriage and children… My guess is that Benedict is a man in love, and making plans already,’ she wrote.

Plus, when asked how he wanted to feel looking back in 30 years at this time in his life, Mr Cumberbatch said he hoped he would be surrounded by a wife and children.

Read our exclusive ELLE interview with Benedict Cumberbatch in full

This is the man whose engagement was revealed via a traditional notice in The Times – so he probably won't be saying any more on the subject. But it's rumoured the parents-to-be will get married in spring.

So – whisper it – congratulations, you two.