Five incredible Sherlock facts to keep you going until 2015

If you’re a fan of Sherlock and John, you’ll be excited by rumours of a special episode – though it’s not even slated for filming until January 2015. Really can’t wait? Here are five facts about the award-winning show to keep you going.

1. Disappointed you don’t see Benedict Cumberbatch in deerstalker mode that much? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wouldn’t be. The author never actually said his detective wore one, although he did mention an ‘ear-flapped travelling cap’ in the book Silver Blaze.

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2. At least a hat would have covered his hair. Cumberbatch recently told The Times he hates the style he sports for the role, saying “I can’t think of a wittier or even accurate comparison, but I just think it makes me look a bit like… a woman.”

3. Love Martin Freeman as Dr Watson? Well, he almost didn’t get the part. The Office star had his wallet stolen on the way to the first audition and was so grumpy producers thought he didn’t even want the role.

4. Amazingly, Dr Who actor Matt Smith nearly got the part of John. Although he auditioned well, producers felt his zany character was more suited to play Holmes – who had already been cast.

5. Although we love Sherlock here in the UK, spare a thought for the show’s equally passionate Chinese fans. All 69 million of them have to watch the show illegally as it is banned in their country.

The cast have recently been spotted arriving at Bristol music venue Colston Hall, with Co-writer Mark Gatiss tweeting on Monday that he was en-route to start filming “On my way West. It begins… #Sherlock”

— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) January 5, 2015”

Speaking of important dates, author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle didn’t make it as simple as printing the detective’s actual birthday but an estimate of his age in the story.” His Last Bow” puts his year of birth at August 1854. Leslie S. Klinger, author of The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, then sets his birthdate as January 6. That makes the great Detective the ripe old age of 161. So, Happy Birthday Sherlock and thank you for all twists and turns!