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Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr, Tom Baker... the full list of actors who have taken on the role of Sherlock Holmes is so long that the super sleuth himself might struggle to remember all the names.

And now, Holmes has broken the record for having more film and TV portrayals than any other literary character.

The consulting detective has been depicted on the big and small screen a total of 254 times.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation beats the next most popular character, Hamlet, by a total of 48 appearances.
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Guinness World Records, which awarded Holmes the record, called him a ‘literary institution’.

Claire Burgess, a Guinness adjudicator, said: ‘This title reflects his enduring appeal and demonstrates that his detective talents are as compelling today as they were 125 years ago.