Top Doctor Who writers Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss have turned their skills to the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in a new drama series for the BBC. The first of the three ninety minute episodes of Sherlock is due to be shown on Sunday 25 July 2010 and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson.
Sherlock also stars Rupert Graves as Detective Inspector Lestrade and Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson, the long-suffering landlady. Molly Hooper is played by Louise Brealey and Sargeant Sally Donovan by Vinette Robinson.
Sherlock the Story
Set in modern London, Sherlock sees Doctor John Watson return from military service in Afghanistan and meet up with Sherlock Holmes to investigate the apparent suicide of a woman in an empty house. This is the fourth in a series of impossible suicides that have stumped Detective Inspector Lestrade, the best Scotland Yard has got.
Holmes and Watson navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers to get at the truth across the three, sometimes scary episodes.
Sherlock the Writers
A lifelong Doctor Who fan, Stephen Moffat’s dreams came true when he was invited to join the writing team of the new Doctor Who in 2004. Such was his success that he won three Hugo awards for his work on the show and has now taken over as head writer and executive producer from Russell T Davies.
Mark Gatiss is well known as a member of the sketch comedy team The League of Gentlemen but genre fans will know him better for his work on Doctor Who. He has written four Doctor Who novels and three television episodes. He is also one of the little known actors who have played Doctor Who, albeit in "The Web of Caves", a comedy sketch for the BBC in 1999.
Sherlock the Actors
Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for a Bafta and won a Golden Nymph for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in Hawking in 2004. Being a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes novels, he is excited to have landed the role. "The novels are so gripping, really interesting, well thought-out, beautifully-drawn characters and a fantastic insight into playing very extraordinary people," he said.
Martin Freeman played Arthur Dent in the 2005 film The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy but is better known for his portrayal of Tim Canterbury in The Office, a role that saw him nominated for a Bafta and British Comedy Award.
Una Stubbs is one of the leading British actresses with credits stretching from Till Death Us Do Part and Fawlty Towers to Eastenders. There is also another Doctor Who connection in that she played in Worzell Gummidge opposite the third actor to play the Doctor, Jon Pertwee.
The Team Behind Sherlock
The third writer in the team is Steve Thompson and the directors are Paul McGuigan and Euros Lyn. Euros Lyn has also been a director on Doctor Who and Torchwood. Sherlock was commissioned by Jay Hunt, controller of BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, controller of BBC Drama Commissioning. Executive producers are Beryl Vertue, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. The BBC executive producer is Bethan Jones.
Sherlock is a Hartswood Films production for BBC Wales, co-produced with Masterpiece. Rebecca Eaton is the executive producer for Masterpiece.
Steve Rogerson - Steve Rogerson is a UK-based writer specialising in television, technology, sports and beer.
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