Sherlock (BBC-1 2010, Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman)

Sherlock the detective hero that never goes out of fashion is back in this very good modern day take on Conan Doyle’s creation. Here Sherlock is a detective for our age but with his superb analytical brain intact, he is also still as difficult and just a little bit dangerous. Watson though is very much a man of action, a doctor of course but also a former soldier who is just back from serving in Afghanistan.

It’s a chance meeting that brings these two loners together for the first time and the two have soon joined forces to investigate a bizarre series of suicides. Detective Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard knows he needs their help but doesn’t really appreciate it.

Created by the dream team of Stephen Moffat (current overseer of Doctor Who) and Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen and all round genius) this new version very quickly swept all before it creating fandom levels reaching almost Doctor Who status. All of the classic Holmesian touches are still in evidence, his address is still 221b Baker Street and Moriarty is promised to be in the background, waiting for his moment to strike.

Moffat couldn’t have put it better himself when he said of the series “Conan Doyle’s stories were never about frock coats and gas light… to hell with the crinoline. Other detectives have cases, Sherlock Holmes has adventures”.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s stock has been steadily rising over the last few years and this was the series to make him a household name. Freeman, of course, is perfect as Watson. Good to see Una Stubbs still going strong too as Mrs Hudson.

There was actually a sixty minute pilot filmed for the series which wasn’t broadcast but appears as an extra on the DVD set which releases at the end of August 2010. Initial ideas for the series were for 8 sixty minute episodes before going down the feature length episodes route. Holmes and Watson head back to the Victorian era for the special episode The Abominable Bride.

The Abominable Bride, broadcast 1 January 2016, upped the ante even further and sent fandom into hysteria by sending Holmes and Watson into the Victorian era (complete with Deerstalker).

production details
UK / BBC-1 / 10×90 minute episodes / Broadcast from 25 July 2010

Creators: Stephen Moffat, Mark Gatiss / Characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / Music: David A. Arnold, Michael Price / Visual Effects: The Mill / Costumes: Sarah Arthur / Production Designer: Arwel Wyn Jones / Executive Producers: Beryl Vertue, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss / Producer: Sue Vertue

cast
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH as Sherlock Holmes
MARTIN FREEMAN as John Watson
UNA STUBBS as Mrs Hudson
RUPERT GRAVES as Inspector Lestrade
LOUISE BREALEY as Molly Hooper
VINETTE ROBINSON as Sergeant Sally Donovan

THE EPISODES
UNAIRED PILOT
A STUDY IN PINK

SEASON ONE
1. A STUDY IN PINK
2. THE BLIND BANKER (1 Aug 2010)
3. THE GREAT GAME (8 Aug 10)

SEASON FOUR
THE SIX THATCHERS (1 Jan 2017)

SEASON FOUR INTERVIEWS
Benedict Cumberbatch
Martin Freeman
Steven Moffat
Mark Gatiss
Amanda Abbington
Rupert Graves
Louise Brealey