Charles Augustus Magnussen

Charles Augustus Magnussen (or CAM) is the primary antagonist of the Third Series of the BBC Drama Sherlock and was played by Lars Mikkelsen.

History
Charles was the owner of a newspaper company and is a known blackmailer, referenced to as the "Napoloeon of blackmailers" by Sherlock Holmes.

Magnussen was first referenced to in the first episode of the third series of Sherlock titled The Empty Hearse when a news heading reveals that Magnussen was called summoned by the parliament. At the end of the episode Magnussen could be seen sitting in the dark (not clearly seen expect close ups of his eyes and long shot) watching a video of John Watson being pulled out of a bonfire by Sherlock and his girlfriend Mary. Its revealed later that Magnussen was responsible for John being put in the bonfire.

During the wedding of Mary and John she receives a telegram wishing her luck, and that wishing her family could of been there and it was signed by CAM. When this is revealed, Mary has a nervous look which causes confusion to John.

Magnussen is the main villain in His Last Bow and is first seen being questioned by a parliamentary committee and its reveled he has been visiting high officials repeatedly which has caused him suspicion. He begins taking interest in the MPs and seems to have the ability to "read" their "pressure points" and later meets one of them and blackmails her with information about her husband's past when sleeping with an underage girl. This causes her to turn to Sherlock Holmes for help. Magnussen later turns up to Sherlock's home at Baker Street and begins "reading" him and John Watson. After urinating in the fire place, Magnussen leaves with his men.

Later on Magnussen is cornered in his penthouse by Mary, who was previously a CIA agent. Sherlock interferes (he arrived at the penthouse to steal back information Magnussen had on the MP) but was shot in the process. Magnussen is spared and arrives at his record room and looks up on information on Mary Watson and her murky past.

Sherlock decides to make a deal on getting information from Magnussen, a place he calls Appledore, vaults under his home. Sherlock decides to get information from his brother Mycroft to give to Magnussen. Sherlock and John meet Magnussen at his home with a laptop that has private information on Mycroft and possible other things to do with the government. Magnussen later reveals there are no vaults, and he keeps the information he gathers in his 'mind palace' and is able to remember everything. Whilst waiting for Mycroft and SWAT teams to arrive, Magnussen feeling victorious begins flicking John's face, threatening to tear him and Mary's world apart with the information he has on her and knows people who want her dead. When MI6 arrive, Sherlock shoots Magnussen in the head, when coming to the conclusion that it was the only way to completely destroy the information he has.

Trivia

 * Charles Augustus Magnussen is based on the character Charles Augustus Milverton, who featured in the Sherlock Holmes short story The Adventures of Charles Augustus Milverton.