Sherlock co-creator and co-writer Steven Moffat has hinted at a potential fifth series of the BBC drama, nearly a decade after the show went on hiatus. Speaking on the Half the Picture podcast, Moffat expressed hope about reuniting the cast and has a definite plan should that wish materialise.
Moffat's Vision for a Return
“If I can persuade everybody else, of course I'd revisit it,” Moffat said. “Can you ever say that you've run out of Sherlock Holmes stories? There are 60 originals. We've done, what is it, 13 or 14?” He added: “There's loads more you could do with Sherlock. I'd quite like to revisit it simply because they would now - our two leads - be the normal age for Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.”
Moffat noted that the team was conscious of telling the beginning of the story and would now like to explore “their more middle-aged, settled versions”. He concluded: “I don't think it's used up.”
Past Success and Hiatus
The modern-day adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson. After four three-episode series and a 2016 special, The Abominable Bride, the show went on break in 2017 following The Final Problem.
Moffat also reflected on his time working on Sherlock alongside his role as showrunner on Doctor Who, calling it a “manic time” when he never “stopped working”. He praised the show: “I loved that show. I look at it now and I watch it, and I think all of it is excellent. I just think it's really well made, beautifully acted, and dare I say it, a beautifully written show. I think it's cracking. And I'm massively proud of it. And I miss it.”
Uncertain Future
Despite Moffat's enthusiasm, a comeback looks unlikely soon. In June 2025, co-creator Mark Gatiss confirmed that Cumberbatch and Freeman “didn't want to do any more” episodes, according to RadioTimes. Sherlock aired on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
