TV SERIES · 2010–2017 · UK
Sherlock
- Created by
- Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat
- Network
- BBC One
- Seasons
- 4
- Episodes
- 12
- Studio
- Hartswood Films, BBC Cymru Wales, Masterpiece
59 archived facts 8 topics 2 sources Last reviewed Nov 2026
A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.
59 Interesting Facts About Sherlock
Interesting Facts (12)
- #001
Watson's P226R is likely meant to be his army service pistol. Although the P226 is used in the British Military, it is mainly used by Special Forces and it is rare to be held by Infantry, where the Browning Hi-Power or the Glock 17 Gen 3, which is phasing out both handguns for its high magazine capacity and reliability, are more common. The P226 was issued widely as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) during British Operations in Afghanistan.
- #002
The typeface used in the overlays is Johnston Sans, well-known for its use in the London Underground.
- #003
In Conan Doyle's original stories, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson addressed each other by their last names, which was common during Victorian times. Since nowadays it is more common for people to address each other with the first name, the show has the two characters address each other as "Sherlock" and "John".
- #004
When Sherlock and John walk into the lab where Dr. Stapleton is working, she says, "Okay, Michael, let's try Harlow 3 next time" to another scientist. That scientist is played by soundtrack composer Michael Price, who also portrays young Dr. Frankland in the photo Sherlock later finds.
- #005
Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Gatiss, who play the Holmes brothers Sherlock and Mycroft, dye their hair black for the roles. Gatiss is naturally red-haired, while Cumberbatch is brown-haired. This small detail is part of the characters' iconic on-screen appearance.
- #006
Jim Moriarty's appearance was designed to be the exact opposite of Sherlock's. In contrast to Sherlock's long, curly hair, Moriarty's hair is straight and combed; while Sherlock wears an open collar, Moriarty always wears a tie. Furthermore, against Sherlock's long coat and turned-up collar, Moriarty's coat is shorter with a Nehru collar; in most scenes, while Sherlock is clean-shaven, Moriarty has light stubble.
- #007
Mark Gatiss shaped his performance as Mycroft Holmes on Peter Mandelson, a Labour politician remembered for controversies and scandals. This inspiration made Mycroft's political manoeuvring and cool demeanour more convincing. Gatiss succeeded in bringing a real-world cunning to the character.
- #008
What Sherlock calls his 'Mind Palace' is actually the ancient memory technique known as the 'Method of Loci,' which dates back to Ancient Rome and was also used by the sixteenth-century Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci.
- #009
In 'The Six Thatchers,' a bus-stop poster introducing Culverton Smith and bearing the words 'A murder will be committed here' is a clue placed for attentive viewers.
- #010
The series extends its narrative beyond the screen, creating an interactive universe enriched by digital side channels such as The Science of Deduction blog, Molly Hooper's diary and the characters' Twitter accounts.
- #011
Sherlock's iconic 221b Baker Street address is actually 187 N Gower Street in London. The building's facade has a Blue Plaque for Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the founders of modern 'Little Italy'; the location also appeared in an episode of the 1960s program Look at Life.
- #012
Sherlock's pointless argument with a payment machine and John's reaction form a small microcosm of their contrasting personalities. John directly calling Sherlock a 'machine' in 'The Reichenbach Fall' is the series' sharpest expression of this emotional detachment.
Production Story (11)
- #013
The role of Molly Hooper was never in the books or short stories and was only meant to be a one-off character to further indicate Sherlock's lack of social skills, particularly addressing any romantic encounters. However, Steven Moffat and other producers loved Louise Brealey's performance so much that they decided to expand her character.
- #014
Benedict Cumberbatch was cast after Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss watched his performance in Atonement (2007). They thought he looked like a perfect Holmes.
Sherlock (2010): Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman during filmingImage: Wikimedia Commons · Fat Les (bellaphon) from London, UK derivative works: RanZag ( talk ), CC BY 2.0 - #015
While recording a Doctor Who story for Big Finish Productions in 2008, Benedict Cumberbatch was given a longer lunch break than usual so he could audition for this show.
- #016
Several websites and social media accounts by characters of the series were created as tie-ins: The Science of Deduction by Sherlock Holmes, The personal blog of Dr. John Watson, Molly Hooper's online diary, The website Connie Prince - Beauty Queen of Hearts, Irene Adler's Twitter account @thewhiphand, and Holmes' Twitter account @ContactSH.
- #017
When Martin Freeman arrived for his first audition, he had just had his wallet stolen. He was in such a bad mood that the producers thought he wasn't interested in the role. Luckily, he was fine at the next audition and got the role.
Sherlock (2010): Martin Freeman and Sherlock Holmes during filmingImage: Wikimedia Commons · Martin_Freeman_filming_Sherlock.jpg : Fat Les (bellaphon) from London…, CC BY 2.0 - #018
In Conan Doyle's original stories, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson addressed each other by their last names, which was common during Victorian times. Since nowadays it is more common for people to address each other by their first names, the show has the two characters address each other as "Sherlock" and "John".
- #019
Sherlock was originally going to have 6 episodes each series, instead of just 3, with each episode being 60 minutes, instead of 90.
- #020
Matt Smith auditioned for the role of Doctor Watson before his Doctor Who (2005) audition. Steven Moffat thought he would do better playing Holmes, but the part was already given to Benedict.
Sherlock (2010): Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman outsideImage: Wikimedia Commons · Saschaporsche, CC BY-SA 3.0 - #021
Originally this was shot as a 60-minute one-off TV movie. Its costs ballooned to an almost unheard-of one million pounds, and rumors flew that the BBC would pull the plug and leave it unaired. Instead, they asked Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat to turn the whole thing into a series pilot. That would entail making it longer. And they wrote a longer script. But they couldn't get the same cinematographer back, and didn't think the added scenes would be consistent with what they had already filmed. So they shot the whole pilot over.
- #022
Benedict Cumberbatch was cast after Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss watched his performance in Atonement (2007). They thought he looked like a perfect Holmes.
- #023
Matt Smith auditioned for the role of Doctor Watson before his Doctor Who (2005) audition. Steven Moffat thought he would do better playing Holmes but the part was already given to Benedict.
Behind the Scenes (7)
- #024
The real address of 221B Baker Street (which is actually 187 N Gower Street, London) features a Blue Plaque on its wall for Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the founders of the modern 'Little Italy', who lived in the area while in London in the 1800s. This is featured in an episode of 'Look at Life' (Roman Invasion) and also shows the shop below as it was then in the 1960s.
- #025
Many versions of the coat that Sherlock wears are used in filming, but the original, used in the pilot, was bought by Mark Gatiss, who later gave it to Benedict Cumberbatch as a birthday present.
- #026
The restaurant "Speedy's" located under Sherlock's flat is real. Because of the show, it has become a popular place for fans to visit. Some fans have even donated their Sherlock fan-art to the restaurant, which the owners put on display.
- #027
Many of the crew in Sherlock (2010) are related. Sherlock's parents are actually actor Benedict Cumberbatch's parents, Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton; Amanda Abbington (Mary Morstan) and Martin Freeman (John Watson) were real-life partners; producer Sue Vertue is writer Steven Moffat's wife, and co-producer and writer Beryl Vertue is his mother-in-law; writer Mark Gatiss' husband is the barrister in The Reichenbach Fall (2012); Steven Moffat's son plays Sherlock Holmes as a child in a few episodes.
- #028
Although John and Sherlock aren't the wealthiest of people and Sherlock is frequently seen on different occasions denying any reward in money for his job, Watson's clothes do not reflect this. In fact, his famous black jacket costs £750, shoes £175, knitted jumper over £200, and his watch a staggering £3000. Sherlock's famous coat is also a staggering £1,750.
- #029
Both Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Gatiss dye their hair black for their roles as Sherlock and Mycroft. They're naturally ginger (Gatiss) and auburn/red-haired (Benedict).
Sherlock (2010): Sherlock in a dark coat on the street in front of red lanternsImage: Wikimedia Commons · Fat Les from London, UK, CC BY 2.0 - #030
As part of his preparation after being cast as Holmes, Benedict Cumberbatch read every original Conan Doyle story.
Characters & Cast (5)
- #031
Mark Gatiss said he based his performance as Mycroft Holmes on the controversial and scandal-prone Labour politician Peter Mandelson.
- #032
In an interview with DigitalSpy, Benedict Cumberbatch revealed that he plays Sherlock so that he can be read as either sociopathic or autistic or both.
Sherlock (2010): Sherlock Holmes in a dark coat in front of red lanternsImage: Wikimedia Commons · Benedict_Cumberbatch_filming_Sherlock.jpg : Fat Les (bellaphon) from …, CC BY 2.0 - #033
Despite all their animosity, Mycroft truly does love and care for Sherlock. It's for this reason he has a minimum level of surveillance on him at all times. There are just some threats and liabilities beyond Sherlock's capabilities.
- #034
When Martin Freeman arrived for his first audition, he just had his wallet stolen. He was in such a bad mood that the producers thought he wasn't interested in the role. Luckily, for the next audition he was fine, and got the role.
- #035
In the summer of 2011 Danny Boyle created a National Theatre production of 'Frankenstein' in which Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller played the creator and monster and alternately changed nightly. Both actors then went on to play another Victorian creation Sherlock Holmes, both set in the present day, allbeit opposite side of the Atlantic.
Easter Eggs & References (16)
- #036
In this series, Watson was wounded in the shoulder but has psychosomatic/psychogenic pain in his leg. This is a sly reference to the original stories in which Arthur Conan Doyle was inconsistent about the location of Watson's war wound.
- #037
The usage of the saying "the game is on" is the modern equivalent to Doyle's saying "the game is afoot," which was borrowed from Shakespeare's "Henry V."
- #038
In His Last Vow (2014), Janine speaks about a small cottage in Sussex. This is in reference to the actual story "His Last Bow", where Sherlock retires in a small cottage on the Sussex downs.
- #039
In the Season 2 premiere, Sherlock talks of the 'myth' about the Allies knowing about the Coventry bombing and still letting it happen so that they don't disclose that they have cracked the Enigma code. In the movie The Imitation Game (2014), Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing and the entire scene is played out on the screen.
- #040
In this new series, Dr. Watson used to be a Captain (and medical doctor) serving with the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers deployed to Afghanistan. The 5th Northumberland Fusiliers did indeed serve in Afghanistan in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880). The first story of the old Sherlock Holmes series took place in 1881. The 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, however, was renamed "The Northumberland Fusiliers" in 1881 (no 5th left in the title), which means the modern Dr. Watson's service with the 5th Northumberlands is a nod to its old heritage. The former 5th Northumberlands evolved into its last formation named "Royal Northumberland Fusiliers" and was amalgamated in 1968. Watson's current regiment would be "The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers", with whom he has served in Afghanistan multiple times over the past 16 years.
- #041
At the end of season 2, Sherlock texts the message "Lazarus" to his brother, played by Mark Gatiss. In Doctor Who, Mark played a character named Lazarus. Doctor Who is written by Steven Moffat, but Sherlock is written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss.
- #042
In The Hounds of Baskerville (2012), John once mentioned that he and Sherlock played a game of Cluedo and that Sherlock deduced the murderer was the victim. In A Scandal in Belgravia (2012), you're able to see a Cluedo board pinned to the wall near the mirror.
- #043
When Sherlock and John walk into the lab where Dr. Stapleton is working, she says, "Okay, Michael, let's try Harlow 3 next time" to another scientist. That scientist is played by soundtrack composer Michael Price, who also portrays young Dr. Frankland in the photo Sherlock later finds.
- #044
The house that Irene lives in is the same house that Sally Sparrow visits the weeping angels in Doctor Who.
- #045
At the end of season 4, Sherlock and Watson are shown running out of a building called "Rathbone Place". This is a reference to one of the most famous incarnations of Sherlock Holmes, who was played by Basil Rathbone.
- #046
The character of Greg Lestrade is a combination of Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade. In the books, the latter character's first name is said to begin with the letter G but is never revealed. This is why Sherlock is always forgetting Lestrade's first name.
- #047
In The Reichenbach Fall, when Sherlock takes John "hostage", in the background on the wall, in graffiti, is "IOU".
- #048
The series frequently offers references that remain true to its literary roots. 'A Study in Pink' salutes 'A Study in Scarlet,' while 'the game is on' modernizes the phrase 'the game is afoot,' which comes from Shakespeare's Henry V and was used by Doyle.
- #049
In the original A Study in Scarlet, Lestrade mistakes the word 'rache' on the wall for 'Rachel,' while Sherlock realizes it is German for 'revenge.' The series reverses these roles, using Anderson's mistake to emphasize Sherlock's intelligence.
- #050
Dr. Watson's military background in the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers salutes the regiment's historical service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. This detail also fits perfectly with the 1881 timeline of the original stories.
- #051
Contains a major spoiler — show
In A Study in Pink (2010), the suspect is a cab driver. This could be a reference to the original story "A Study in Scarlet", in which the suspect is a "cab" driver too.
Deeper Meaning (5)
- #052
As in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, the term "deduction" is misused. Like medical diagnosticians, hunters and yes, detectives, what Holmes actually uses is a form of inference called "abductive reasoning", which is neither deductive nor inductive.
- #053
In an interview with DigitalSpy, Benedict Cumberbatch revealed that he plays Sherlock so that he can be read as either sociopathic or autistic or both.
- #054
The series' creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat had previously worked together on Doctor Who. There are interesting links between the two universes: there are figures such as Peter Cushing and Tom Baker who played both the Doctor and Sherlock. In fact, the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, says in one episode that he was a student of Dr. Joseph Bell, the inspiration for Holmes; Brian Cox, meanwhile, played both Bell and Sydney Newman, the creator of Doctor Who.
- #055
Contains a major spoiler — show
It becomes very obvious when binge watching the first 14 episodes, including "Many Happy Returns", but excluding the original version of the pilot, that seasons 1-4 actually subtly form one long story arc, eventually leading up to the shocking revelation of what the "Redbeard" references are.
- #056
Contains a major spoiler — show
Certain 1890s scenes in the semi-period "The Abominable Bride" could be seen to imply that the entire 21st-century "modern" period settings of the rest of the entire run could actually be the drug-induced (mind palace) hallucinations or imaginings of the 1890s-period Sherlock Holmes, thus turning the entire series into one long alternate version of "reality".
Career & Awards (2)
- #057
Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr. and Ian McKellen have all played the character of Sherlock Holmes before. All three of them have also played roles in Marvel movies. Cumberbatch plays Dr. Stephen Strange, Downey plays Iron Man and McKellen played Magneto. Whilst Sir Michael Caine and Matt Frewer, who also played Sherlock Holmes, both appeared in DC movies. Frewer as the former villain Moloch in Watchmen, and Caine as Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy. Matt Frewer was also in the Marvel made-for-TV movie Generation X (1996).
- #058
In the summer of 2011, Danny Boyle created a National Theatre production of 'Frankenstein' in which Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller played the creator and the monster and alternately changed nightly. Both actors then went on to play another Victorian creation, Sherlock Holmes, both set in the present day, albeit on opposite sides of the Atlantic.
Life & Family (1)
- #059
Benedict Cumberbatch is distantly related to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the original Sherlock Holmes books. They are 16th cousins twice removed and their common ancestor is John of Gaunt.
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