Sherlock World Record

Yorkshire beat the Guinness World Record for the Most People Dressed as Sherlock Holmes today (31 August) with 443 gathering from across the UK dressed as the detective. The fundraising…

Yorkshire beat the Guinness World Record for the Most People Dressed as Sherlock Holmes today (31 August) with 443 gathering from across the UK dressed as the detective.

The fundraising and awareness raising event for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre was the brainchild of Clair Challenor-Chadwick, MD of Cause UK who organised a dedicated Sherlock Festival, with music, dance, circus, funfairs and cosplay, hundreds of people dressed in deerstalker hats, cloaks, with pipe and magnifying glass, did a collective Sherlock mob dance to ‘Staying Alive’ putting a modern twist on the Victorian detective. The dance included the theme tune to the BBC Sherlock series, shuffling to the left then the right.

On a glorious sunny day at Temple Newsam, there was a sea of dancing Sherlocks, at the end of the Record, they sang along to ‘We are the Champions’.

The last World Record attempt was in London – Yorkshire trebled the number collated in the capital (113).

Clair even persuaded the very jet-lagged Sherlock and Dr Who writer STEVEN MOFFAT and wife, TV Producer SUE VERTUE, to send a video message of support for the Sherlock World Record, which was met with cheers and applause. Steven and Sue very graciously filmed this video with the help of their children on their first day back at home, after their successful Emmy award wins earlier on in the week.  They donated a BBC Sherlock script which was signed by all the cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch, and writers, for the best dressed Sherlock.

The event, hosted by actor and comedian Neil Grainger.

Clair Challenor-Chadwick, Appeal Director of the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre, said: “Sherlock is the perfect fit for brain research as the brainiest detective of all time was born in Yorkshire. He is helping us raise awareness of this much under-funded area to help patients with dementia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and MS.”

The event had attendees from Germany and Holland.  We even had a Japanese film crew. The Sherlock World Record has  galvanised world-wide support with donations from Chile, France, USA, Canada, Japan and Mexico. Sherlocks have been popping up from around the world on social media, with Sherlock fans posting #sherlockselfie pics to help raise awareness of brain research and the world record attempt. Pictures have been posted from the Great Wall of China, from Australian beaches, and outside 221B Baker Street itself.

The new research centre will help deal with life-limiting brain conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and dementia. The centre will conduct research for patient benefit and will help scientists find new treatments and drug therapies.

Social media fans are being asked to TEXT BRAIN to 88811 to donate £5 and to nominate a friend.

@sherlockrecord, #sherlockselfie