TV: BBC SHERLOCK PRODUCED BY STEVEN MOFFAT AND MARK GATISS

SHERLOCK
Duration:
3 x 90 minutes
Channel:
BBC1 in 2010
In production:
November 2009 
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman 

 
From the programme press release:

"John Watson, army doctor, invalided home from Afghanistan, alone and friendless ...

Sherlock Holmes, the most brilliant intellect of his generation, alone and friendless ...

London, 2009 - the best and longest friendship in all of fiction is about to begin anew.

The most famous detective, the most baffling mysteries, the most thrilling adventures and the deadliest foes, are coming in out of the fog. Sherlock Holmes was always a modern man - it was the world that got old. Now he's back as he should be - edgy, contemporary, difficult, dangerous.

A woman in pink lies murdered in an abandoned house - a serial killer is loose on London. Inspector Lestrade is the best Scotland Yard has got, but he knows he's not as good as a strange young man called Sherlock ..."

The Hartswood Films Initial Press Release (January 2009):

BBC Wales Drama, BBC One and Hartswood Films announce SHERLOCK, a contemporary remake of the Arthur Conan Doyle classic, starring Benedict Cumberbatch (STARTER FOR TEN, STUART: A LIFE BACKWARDS) as the new Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (THE OFFICE, HOT FUZZ) as his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson. Rupert Graves (GOD ON TRIAL, MIDNIGHT MAN) plays Inspector Lestrade.

The drama is co-created by the amazing partnership of Steven Moffat (DOCTOR WHO, COUPLING) and Mark Gatiss (THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN, DOCTOR WHO, CROOKED HOUSE) and produced by Sue Vertue (COUPLING, THE CUP). The 1 x 60 minute episode, written by Moffat, started filming on 12th January, and is being directed by Coky Giedroyc (VIRGIN QUEEN, BLACKPOOL, OLIVER TWIST).

SHERLOCK is a thrilling, funny, fast-paced take on the crime drama genre set in present day London. The iconic details from Conan Doyle's original books remain - they live at the same address, have the same names and, somewhere out there in the London of 2009, Moriarty is waiting for them.

Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, says: “Our Sherlock is a dynamic superhero in a modern world, an arrogant, genius sleuth driven by a desire to prove himself cleverer than the perpetrator and the police, everyone in fact.”

SHERLOCK is produced by Hartswood Films, continuing their fruitful relationship with the BBC. Past productions include COUPLING, MEN BEHAVING BADLY, JEKYLL and, most recently, THE CUP for BBC Two.

Steven Moffat says: “Everything that matters about Holmes and Watson is the same. Conan Doyle's stories were never about frock coats and gas light; they're about brilliant detection, dreadful villains and blood-curdling crimes – and frankly, to hell with the crinoline. Other detectives have cases, Sherlock Holmes has adventures, and that's what matters. Mark and I have been talking about this project for years, on long train rides to Cardiff for DOCTOR WHO. Quite honestly, we'd still be talking about it if Sue Vertue of Hartswood Films (conveniently also my wife) hadn't sat us down for lunch and got us to work.”

Mark Gatiss says: “The fact that Steven, myself and millions of others are still addicted to Conan Doyle's brilliant stories is testament to their indestructibility. They're as vital, lurid, thrilling and wonderful as they ever were. It's a dream come true to be making a new TV series and in Benedict and Mark we have the perfect Holmes and Watson for our time.”

Sue Vertue says: “Steven and Mark are such huge fans of the Sherlock Holmes stories that I had a feeling they would just go on and on talking about it, so I picked the Criterion for our lunch as I knew of its iconic significance in the meeting of Sherlock and Watson and thought it might get the boys' attention! It did, and what has evolved from that meeting is hugely exciting.”

Commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, and Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, SHERLOCK is shooting in Wales and on location in London. SHERLOCK is executive produced by Beryl Vertue, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat.

More information when it becomes available.