TV: BBC SHERLOCK THE GREAT GAME AIRS ON PBS SUNDAY, NOV. 7

The US broadcast of the third episode - THE GREAT GAME - in the new updated BBC series SHERLOCK airs Sunday, November 7th at 9PM EDT (8 Central) on PBS as part of the MASTERPIECE MYSTERY series. For details visit the PBS MASTERPIECE MYSTERY SHERLOCK page.






To see the original unaired pilot be sure to pick up the DVD release. Also featured on the DVD are commentary tracks featuring creators Moffat and Gatiss as well as Cumberbatch and Freeman. Click here to order the DVD via Amazon.

TV: BBC SHERLOCK US BROADCAST SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24 ON PBS

The US broadcast of the new updated BBC series SHERLOCK begins Sunday, October 24th at 9PM (8 Central) on PBS as part of the MASTERPIECE MYSTERY series. For details visit the PBS MASTERPIECE MYSTERY SHERLOCK page.



Benedict Cumberbatch (Small Island, Starter For Ten) and Martin Freeman (The Office, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy) star in Sherlock, a thrilling, fast-paced update of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective, set in present-day London, for BBC One.

Sherlock is co-created by the hugely talented partnership of Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Coupling) and Mark Gatiss (The League Of Gentlemen, Crooked House, Doctor Who) and produced by Sue Vertue (Coupling, The Cup).

The three, 90-minute films, written by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss and Steve Thompson (Whipping It Up, Mutual Friends) are directed by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin, Gangster No. 1, The Acid House) and Euros Lyn (Doctor Who, Torchwood).

In this unique adaptation, the iconic details from Conan Doyle's original books remain. They live at the same address, are only interested in the bizarre and, somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting for them.

DVD: BBC SHERLOCK R1 DVD NOVEMBER 9, 2010

The first season of the BBC series SHERLOCK, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, receives a North American (Region 1) DVD and Blu-Ray release on November 9, 2010. Click here to pre-order SHERLOCK at Amazon.com. The DVD will feature the three 90-minute episodes as well as the unaired original pilot and a couple commentary tracks.

TV: 2ND SERIES OF SHERLOCK CONFIRMED

BBC PRESS RELEASE - August 28, 2010

Jay Hunt, Controller of BBC One, confirmed at the Edinburgh Television Festival today that two of the nation's most talked about dramas – Sherlock and Luther – have been recommissioned.

Jay Hunt says: "Sherlock was the hit of the Summer. Luther the most memorable new detective on the block. I am delighted they will both be returning to BBC One."

Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as John Watson, became a national phenomenon, being discussed in the House of Commons, Tweeted across the globe and even inspiring the next Autumn men's collections. It will return for another series of three 90-minute feature length episodes.

Co-creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat says: "We've been overwhelmed by the warmth of response to our new Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and can't wait to take them on three new adventures next year. There'll be baffling new puzzles, old friends and new enemies – whether on two or four legs. And we might well be seeing the cold master of logic and reason unexpectedly falling. But in love? Or over a precipice? Who can tell?"

DVD: 1965 DOUGLAS WILMER SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES TO DVD SEPTEMBER 2010

According to a BBC America Press release on April 16th, 2010 the BBC and Warner Home Video are planning a release of the 11 surviving complete episodes of the 1965 BBC Television series starring Douglas Wilmer as Sherlock Holmes. Details on the release appear at TVShowsOnDVD.com


The 2-DVD package has a $19.98 SRP, and is expected to include the following:

• Pilot: The Speckled Band
• Episode 1 - The Illustrious Client
• Episode 2 - The Devil's Foot
• Episode 3 - The Copper Beeches
• Episode 4 - The Red-Headed League
• Episode 6 - The Six Napoleons
• Episode 7 - The Man with the Twisted Lip
• Episode 8 - The Beryl Coronet
• Episode 9 - Charles Augustus Milverton
• Epsiode 10 - The Retired Colourman
• Episode 11 - The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

Note: Two episodes of the Douglas Wilmer series in the BBC archives are believed to be incomplete -"The Abbey Grange" and "The Bruce-Partington Plans" - so are not included in this release.

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.

DVD: 1968 BBC SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES COMES TO REGION 1 DVD ON DECEMBER 15, 2009

A&E Home Entertainment will be releasing all 5 existing episodes ( the BBC wiped the rest in an economy drive) of the 1968 BBC Sherlock Holmes series starring Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock as Holmes and Watson to Region 1 (North America) DVD in December 2009. The boxed set is comprised of: The Hound of the Baskervilles (parts 1 & 2), The Sign of the Four, The Blue Carbuncle, A Study in Scarlet and The Boscombe Valley Mystery.

Click here to pre-order the set from Amazon USA.

Cushing is a fantastic Holmes and, to my mind, his performance in this series marks him as one of the great interpreters of the role. While I loved his work in the 1958 Hammer film version of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, he's far less frantic and even better in the BBC series. Nigel Stock is a staunch, loyal and largely convincing Watson. The chemistry between Cushing and Stock is apparent and the two actors play off of each other beautifully. The two-part HOUND rates as one of the most faithful versions ever produced for film or television. A definite 'must have' for North American Sherlock Holmes fans. Highly Recommended!