Sherlock is a British crime television series based on the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and his character Sherlock Holmes. Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the title character and Martin Freeman as his assistant Dr. John Watson in a modernised adaptation of the classic stories. The series consists of 13 episodes in four three-part series which aired on the BBC network from 2010 to 2017, including a special episode that aired on January 1, 2016. It was produced by Moffat, Gatiss, Sue Vertue, and Rebecca Eaton.
Sherlock depicts "consulting detective" Sherlock Holmes solving various mysteries in modern-day London. Holmes is assisted by his flatmate and friend, Dr. John Watson, who has returned from military service in Afghanistan with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Although Metropolitan Police Service Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade and others are suspicious of Holmes at first, over time, his exceptional intellect and bold powers of observation persuade them of his value. In part through Watson's blog documenting their adventures, Holmes becomes a reluctant celebrity with the press reporting on his cases and eccentric personal life. Both ordinary people and the British government ask for his help.
Episodes[]
Series One[]
The first series originally aired on the BBC network from July 25, 2010 to August 8, 2010. In the United Kingdom, it had an average broadcast viewership of 8.37 million.
| Overall episode no. | Series episode no. | Title | Director | Writer | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | A Study In Pink | Paul McGuigan | Steven Moffat | UK: July 25, 2010
US: October 24, 2010 |
UK: 8.7 |
| 2 | 2 | The Blind Banker | Euros Lyn | Stephen Thompson | UK: August 1, 2010
US: October 31, 2010 |
UK: 7.74 |
| 3 | 3 | The Great Game | Paul McGuigan | Mark Gatiss | UK: August 8, 2010
US: November 7, 2010 |
UK: 8.66 |
Series Two[]
The second series originally aired on the BBC network in the United Kingdom and PBS in the United States from January 1, 2012 to May 20, 2012. It had an average broadcast viewership of 10.23 million in the UK and 4.4 million in the US.
| Overall episode no. | Series episode no. | Title | Director | Writer | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | A Scandal In Belgravia | Paul McGuigan | Steven Moffat | UK: January 1, 2012
US: May 6, 2012 |
UK: 8.7
US: 3.2 |
| 5 | 2 | The Hounds Of Baskerville | Paul McGuigan | Mark Gatiss | UK: January 8, 2012
US: May 13, 2012 |
UK: 10.27 |
| 6 | 3 | The Reichenbach Fall | Toby Haynes | Stephen Thompson | UK: January 15, 2012
US: May 20, 2012 |
UK: 9.78 |
Series Three[]
The third series originally aired on the BBC network in the United Kingdom and PBS in the United States from January 1, 2014 to February 2, 2014. It was preceded by a mini-episode broadcast online on December 24, 2013, serving as a prequel to the series. The main series had an average viewership of 11.83 million in the UK and 3.3 million in the US.
| Overall episode no. | Series episode no. | Title | Director | Writer | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | – | Many Happy Returns | Jeremy Lovering | Mark Gatiss
Steven Moffat |
December 24, 2013 | – |
| 7 | 1 | The Empty Hearse | Jeremy Lovering | Mark Gatiss | UK: January 1, 2014
US: January 19, 2014 |
UK: 12.72
US: 4.0 |
| 8 | 2 | The Sign Of Three | Colm McCarthy | Stephen Thompson
Steven Moffat Mark Gatiss |
UK: January 5, 2014
US: January 26, 2014 |
UK: 11.38
US: 2.9 |
| 9 | 3 | His Last Vow | Nick Hurran | Steven Moffat | UK: January 12, 2014
US: February 2, 2014 |
UK: 11.38
US: 3.0 |
Special[]
A Victorian-themed special episode aired on January 1, 2016 in the United Kingdom and the United States. It received a viewership of 11.64 million in the UK and 3.4 million in the US.
| Overall episode no. | Title | Director | Writer | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | The Abominable Bride | Douglas MacKinnon | Mark Gatiss
Steven Moffat |
January 1, 2016 | UK: 11.64
US: 3.4 |
Series Four[]
The fourth and final series aired on the BBC network in the United Kingdom and PBS in the United States from January 1, 2017 to January 15, 2017. It received an average viewership of 10 million in the UK.
| Overall episode no. | Series episode no. | Title | Director | Writer | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | The Six Thatchers | Rachel Talalay | Mark Gatiss | January 1, 2017 | UK: 11.33
US: 3.7 |
| 12 | 2 | The Lying Detective | Nick Hurran | Steven Moffat | January 8, 2017 | UK: 9.53 |
| 13 | 3 | The Final Problem | Benjamin Caron | Mark Gatiss
Steven Moffat |
January 15, 2017 | UK: 9.06 |
Characters[]
Main[]
- Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch)
- Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman)
- D.I. Greg Lestrade (Rupert Graves)
- Mrs. Hudson (Una Stubbs)
- Mycroft Holmes (Mark Gatiss)
- Molly Hooper (Louise Brealey)
- Mary Watson (Amanda Abbington)
Recurring[]
- Sgt. Sally Donovan (Vinette Robinson)
- Philip Anderson (Jonathan Aris)
- Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott)
- Irene Adler (Lara Pulver)
- Charles Magnussen (Lars Mikkelsen)
- Culverton Smith (Toby Jones)
- Eurus Holmes (Sian Brooke)
- Anthea (Lisa McAllister)
- Janine Hawkins (Yasmine Akram)
- Mr. Holmes (Timothy Carlton)
- Mrs. Holmes (Wanda Ventham)
- Lady Smallwood (Lindsay Duncan)
Awards and nominations[]
Sherlock has been nominated for a variety of awards by different academies and organisations. It has been nominated for a total of 42 awards and has won 24.
BAFTA[]
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has honoured Sherlock with 13 awards and 6 other nominations. This includes awards and nominations presented at the BAFTA TV Awards, as well as the BAFTA Cymru Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards (BATCA) where indicated.
2011:
- Best Drama Series
- Best Supporting Actor, for Martin Freeman
- Best Editing: Fiction (BATCA), for Charlie Phillips
- Best Director: Fiction (BAFTA Cymru), for Euros Lyn
2012:
- Best Supporting Actor, for Andrew Scott
- Best Television Drama (BAFTA Cymru)
- Best Director of Photography: Fiction, for Steve Lawes
- Best Production Design, for Arwel Wyn Jones
- Best Make Up & Hair, for Claire Pritchard-Jones
- Best Writing (BATCA), for Steven Moffat in "A Scandal In Belgravia"
- Best Editing: Fiction (BATCA), for Charlie Phillips in "A Scandal In Belgravia"
- Best Sound: Fiction (BATCA), for John Mooney, Jeremy Child, Howard Bargroff, and Doug Sinclair in "A Scandal In Belgravia"
2015:
- Radio Times Audience Award
Critics' Choice Association[]
The Critics' Choice Association has nominated Sherlock for 7 awards at the Critics' Choice Television Awards, with the show winning 2.
2012:
- Best Movie/Miniseries
- Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries, for Benedict Cumberbatch
Edinburgh International Television Festival[]
2011:
- Arquiva Award for Best Terrestrial Show
2012:
- Arquiva Award for Best Terrestrial Show
- Network and Ones To Watch Programme Choice
Emmys[]
The Emmy Awards has nominated Sherlock for 39 awards, with the show winning 10.
2014:
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, for Benedict Cumberbatch
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, for Martin Freeman
- Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special, for "His Last Vow"
- Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie, for "His Last Vow"
- Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score), for "His Last Vow"
- Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or Movie, for "His Last Vow"
- Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or Special, for "His Last Vow"
- Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or Movie, for "His Last Vow"
2016:
- Outstanding Television Movie, for "The Abominable Bride"
- Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role
Peabody Awards[]
2011:
- Peabody Award, for "A Study In Pink"
South Bank Sky Arts Awards[]
2012:
- Best TV Drama
TCA Awards[]
2011:
- Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, or Specials