Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch raised eyebrows at the Oscars - when he was spotted drinking from a hip flask during the prestigious Hollywood ceremony.

The star, 38, was all smiles as he arrived at the Academy Awards with his new wife Sophie Hunter, who is expecting their first child.

During the ceremony, when host Neil Patrick Harris was opening the show, Cumberbatch was seen putting the silver hip flask to his lips.

But The Imitation Game star did not appear happy to find that the camera was on him, mouthing the words "Go away".

Cumberbatch, who was dressed in a white tuxedo, was in the running for best actor, although fellow British star and eventual winner Eddie Redmayne had been heavily tipped as the night's favourite.

The Sherlock star provided one of the most famous images of the 2014 Oscars, when he photobombed U2 on the red carpet - waving his hands behind the band and leaping up into the air.