Fans would be all over a return to Sherlock, six years later (Picture: Hartswood Films/Rex/Shutterstock)
Steven Moffat has doubled down on his previous comments that he would write more episodes of the BBC hit series Sherlock ‘tomorrow’ if he could get stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman to return.
And this time he did actually go as far as to jokingly beg, proving his keenness for a fifth season.
The former Doctor Who showrunner’s take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective, set in modern-day London, made huge stars out of the two actors, who were also making other exciting career breakthroughs elsewhere.
The show’s loyal fan base saw Sherlock run for 13 episodes across four seasons between 2010 and 2017, garnering Bafta and Emmy Award wins along the way, including for its leading actors.
The writer, who has new play Unfriend debuting in the West End later this month, said: ‘Look, I’ll start writing tomorrow if Benedict and Martin will show up, frankly.’
He then jokingly added: ‘Sadly, they’re on to bigger and better things, and left us behind crying, but Benedict and Martin, please come back?’
Cumberbatch and Freeman were last on our screens as Sherlock and Watson in 2017 (Picture: BBC/Hartswood Films/Colin Hutton)
Writer Steven Moffat is up for a fifth season if his lead actors are (Picture: Getty Images)
Last year, Moffat made similar comments when discussing a return to Sherlock, pointing out that getting Cumberbatch and Freeman back on board was the major issue.
‘It’s down to Benedict and Martin. They were very loyal to that show over a very long while when it was out, when it definitely became their lowest paying job. And I don’t think that’s necessarily what they want to do now – fair enough, absolutely fair enough.
‘But if anyone thinks I’m the one getting in the way, I will confidently tell you I would start writing it tomorrow, if everybody else did too,’ he told RadioTimes.com.
Cumberbatch has indicated that finding the right time to return is hard but he hasn’t ruled it out (Picture: Colin Hutton)
Elsewhere in his appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Moffatt revealed that the respective teams had ‘just started talking about’ a second season of acclaimed Netflix and BBC crime drama Inside Man, which starred Stanley Tucci and David Tennant.
Marvel star Cumberbatch revealed he hadn’t ruled out donning Sherlock’s long coat with turned-up collar once again either in a TV appearance in 2022.
‘I don’t know, you know. I like to say never say never. I don’t know many of us that have come out and said, “No, it’s a done thing”, he said on Lorraine.
However, his comments echoed Moffat’s on the logistical difficulties.
Both Sherlock stars are now part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Picture: LMK/Walt Disney)
‘I guess it just has to be the right time. We are all really busy with other stuff,’ he added.
Since Sherlock started airing, the star has been cast as Doctor Strange in the MCU and been nominated for two best actor actors: in 2015 for his turn as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game and last year for his performance in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog.
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Meanwhile Freeman has joined him in the MCU with his appearances as Everett Ross in the Black Panther films.
He also played the lead role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s trilogy of films based on JRR Tolkein’s The Hobbit.
Sherlock is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
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He confirmed he’d start ‘writing tomorrow’ if they agreed to come back.
