Skip to main content

Sherlock and Watson go old-school in first preview of Christmas Special

BBC’s Sherlock has become a Primetime Emmy darling, earning almost 30 nominations and seven wins over just three seasons in addition to a long list of other prestigious awards for its cast and creative team. As is traditional with BBC projects, the hit series returns later this year for a Christmas Special that — according to a new promotional image and clip released this week — brings the series back in time from its modern setting to Victorian London.

Fortunately, the change in era appears to have done little to change the personalities (quirks and all) of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman’s Dr. John Watson, who find themselves investigating yet another seemingly unsolvable case in their own inimitable manner.

The new promotional image (see in full below) for Sherlock was released earlier this week ahead of the official kickoff to Comic-Con International in San Diego, and it was soon followed by a short clip from the upcoming Christmas Special. Featuring the famous residents of 221B Baker Street in the anachronistic garb associated with Sherlock Holmes’ original adventures, the image prompted much speculation about the setting of the Christmas Special — and some of those rumors were confirmed in the first clip from the episode, which clearly unfolds in Victorian-era London.

“The first few days we were just so excited because we saw our show with Benedict and Martin in the proper gear and his extraordinary sideburns and you think ‘Why didn’t we always do this? Why did we make that silly mistake of updating it?'” series co-creator Steven Moffatt told UK Express after the clip’s debut. “But by the end we slightly missed the modern iteration. Maybe we’ll just alternate them all. Mark [Gatiss, co-creator] and I think we should do the 1940’s propaganda German version.”

Co-written by Moffat and Gatiss, the Christmas Special does not have a specific broadcast date at this point, but will likely premiere in December. The fourth season of Sherlock is expected to go into production in 2016, and continue the now-traditional format of three 90-minute episodes each season.

The most recent Sherlock earned Cumberbatch and Freeman a pair of Emmy Awards as the year’s best “Lead Actor” and “Supporting Actor,” respectively.

“We’ve got a clear idea of what we’re going to do and it’s going to be a clear shift in tone,” said Moffat of what to expect in the next season. “Yes, there’s going to be some dark stuff coming but there always is. There always fun and jokes and detection and all that nonsense. It’s dark in some ways – obviously it’s great fun and a Sherlock Holmes romp and all that – but there’s a sense of things coming back to bite you.”

Editors' Recommendations

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
Missing’s ending, explained
A young woman talks on her cellphone in Missing.

The sleeper hit movie of 2023, and soon to be one of the most popular movies on Netflix, doesn't involve superheroes or possessed demons like in Evil Dead Rise; instead, it focuses on a young teenager who uses all of the technology at her disposal to find a lost relative. Missing is a sequel of sorts to 2018's Searching, which told a story about a father (John Cho) who is desperate to find his missing daughter. It became a surprise critical and commercial hit and was praised for its unique way of telling the entire story through a computer screen.

While set in the same world, Missing tells a new story about a teenage girl (Storm Reid) who quickly realizes her mother has disappeared under very strange circumstances. Utilizing the power of social media and Google, she tries to track her down while also uncovering some mysteries about her past. If you are interested in having Missing's ending explained, you've come to the right place!
What is Missing about?

Read more
How to watch 2023 AEW Double or Nothing
Logo for AEW Double or Nothing.

It's Memorial Day weekend, and wrestling fans know what that means. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) will take center stage for the fifth-straight year with the 2023 AEW Double or Nothing event. AEW Double or Nothing dates back to 2019, when the upstart wrestling company hosted its first-ever pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. Five years later, AEW returns to Nevada for another edition of Double or Nothing.

AEW's biggest stars will be featured in a series of matches ranging from a four-way ladder match to a battle royale and unsanctioned match. The list of AEW superstars scheduled to fight at Double or Nothing includes MJF, Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, Christian Cage, Jon Moxley, Jade Cargill, FTR, Orange Cassidy, Toni Storm, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, and more. Find out where to watch Double or Nothing below.
When and where is 2023 AEW Double or Nothing?

Read more
Where to watch the National Memorial Day concert: live stream the event for free
A man holds a trumpet in the National Memorial Day concert.

Every Memorial Day brings several traditions that almost everyone experiences: the quick preparation for the beginning of the summer season, traveling to see relatives you barely know or tolerate, watching live sports while digesting unhealthy food, and trying to relax and enjoy the respite from a hard day's work.

For some people, it's watching a bunch of musicians gather to sing some tunes and some of their biggest pop hits. The National Memorial Day concert has been around for 30 years. The 2023 edition promises to be the best yet, with a slate of pop and country singers and established stars from the stage to the big screen coming together for a concert at the National Mall in Washington D.C. You don't need a ticket to attend, as the event will be televised and streamed this year. But where and when can you watch it?

Read more