What a difference a day makes! Seems like it was just 24 hours ago that the old adage of “no news is good news” was applicable to any anticipated return of the world’s most famous consulting detective. Now comes the best new of 2014 so far from the BBC.
 

“Miss me?” Sherlock Returns

Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, will return to television for a not only a one-off special but it will be followed by a series of three new episodes!

The last series saw Sherlock’s life change a lot – he returned from the dead, his best friend John Watson married Mary Morstan and he met his match in Charles Augustus Magnussen. After the briefest of exiles, Sherlock came back only to face one of his biggest mysteries yet. Why is Moriarty’s face being broadcast on every television in the land? Speaking about the return of the series, co-creator, writer and executive producer Steven Moffat said: “A special, plus a new series of three episodes – it’s a record-breaking run!! Of course, it’s far too early to say what’s coming, but we’re reasonably confident that the very next thing to happen to Sherlock and John, is the very last thing you’d expect ….”

Co-creator, writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss adds: “Series Four! At last ! It’s always special to return to ‘Sherlock’ but this time it’s even more special as we’re doing…a Special! Not only THAT, we’ll then be shooting three more episodes which will take Sherlock and John Watson into deeper and darker water than ever before…The whole ‘Sherlock’ team are terrifically excited to return for four new adventures. The Game is on – again!”
Sue Vertue, Executive Producer, Hartswood Films says: “It’s taken a little while to get the dates sorted as none of the boys are exactly sitting back twiddling their thumbs but there was unanimous goodwill to make this work so we’re thrilled that 221b is going to be inhabited again.”

Shooting on the special will begin in January 2015, with the series shooting later next year. Sherlock airs in the U.S. on MASTERPIECE on PBS and on BBC1 in the UK.