‘Sherlock’ Season 5 Air Date, Latest News: Showrunners, Actors Hint at Series Return, but Not Anytime Soon

The hit BBC TV series “Sherlock” is going to return for season 5. However, its showrunners and cast members have been suggesting that it will not air anytime soon.

“Sherlock” is based on the crime and detective stories penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle focused on the titular protagonist, Sherlock Holmes. But this particular TV series features a contemporary touch to its writing, thanks to showrunners Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. Benedict Cumberbatch portrays the titular role while Martin Freeman plays Doctor John Watson.

The show’s fourth season concluded on Jan. 15, 2017 with an episode titled “Final Problem,” which might have contributed to the rumors that “Sherlock” season 5 might never happen. However, showrunners and actors of the show have hinted on various occasions that the show will return for another installment. The only problem for fans is they have never provided a timeline for the show’s return.

Luckily, Moffat provided a statement shortly after season 4 concluded that clearly means they are going to return for “Sherlock” season 5. In a social media post now taken down, the series co-creator said, “Re: Sherlock's future - for those of you asking, it's definitely the end. Of Chapter One.”

He also dished some possible character development and changes that could be visible in “Sherlock” season 5. “Dr. Watson is now Doyle's brave widower and Sherlock Holmes has become the wise and humane version of the main run of the stories (we've focused, so far, on the cold Holmes of the early days),” Moffat wrote.

Meanwhile, just last April, Steven Moffat said on a BBC Radio 2 program (via Radio Times) that “Benedict [Cumberbatch] is very keen to play [Sherlock] again.” The series creator then reassured fans that they will “come back” “at some point” for “Sherlock” season.

Even before the puzzle of whether or not “Sherlock” season 5 is happening, fans must also note that the series has naturally taken very long gaps between the airing of every season. In fact, it technically took three years before season 3 was followed by season 4.

Meanwhile, one of the obvious reasons that “Sherlock” season 5 cannot be airing anytime soon is simply the very busy schedules that Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have. This has been recognized by the series creators in the previous years as something they have to deal with as well. “We do have two film stars in the program. They haven’t needed to do these jobs for a very long time. They’re coming back because they want to,” Moffat told Telegraph in 2016.