Whilst the fourth season of Sherlock has been airing on BBC One, Mark Gatiss has played a rather active role in defending the show, most notably through writing a now-infamous poem.

The writer, who also plays Sherlock’s brother Mycroft, has now defended the show’s often challenging plot, filled with twists and turns.

“People ask if it’s good to challenge the audience,” he told the Daily Star. “Of course it f***ing is. Why would you not want to challenge your audience?

“I did a phone-in after the Christmas special a few years ago and someone said it was too complicated for people to follow. I said ‘oh, go and pour some warm paste into your mouth’. If you don’t want to be challenged, don’t watch it. It’s a complex and entertaining programme.

Sherlock season 4 in pictures Show all 7 1 /7 Sherlock season 4 in pictures Sherlock season 4 in pictures Mark Gatiss and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock Sherlock, Season 4 premieres January 1, 2017 on MASTERPIECE onÂ PBS. Picture shows: Mycroft Holmes (MARK GATISS) and Sherlock Holmes (BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH) Copyright: Hartswood Films 2016. Sherlock season 4 in pictures Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson in Sherlock Sherlock, Season 4 premieres January 1, 2017 on MASTERPIECE onÂ PBS. Picture shows: Mrs Hudson (UNA STUBBS) Copyright: Hartswood Films 2016 Sherlock season 4 in pictures Mark Gatiss in Sherlock Sherlock, Season 4 premieres January 1, 2017 on MASTERPIECE onÂ PBS. Picture shows: Mycroft Holmes (MARK GATISS) Copyright: Hartswood Films 2016. Sherlock season 4 in pictures Toby Jones in Sherlock Sherlock, Season 4 premieres January 1, 2017 on MASTERPIECE onÂ PBS. Picture shows: Culverton Smith (TOBY JONES) Copyright: Hartswood Films 2016. Sherlock season 4 in pictures Martin Freeman in Sherlock Sherlock, Season 4 premieres January 1, 2017 on MASTERPIECE onÂ PBS. Picture shows: John Watson (MARTIN FREEMAN) Copyright: Hartswood Films 2016. Sherlock season 4 in pictures Martin Freeman, Amanda Abbington, and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock Sherlock, Season 4 premieres January 1, 2017 on MASTERPIECE onÂ PBS. Picture shows: Behind-the-scenes filming 'Sherlock' Season 4. John Watson (MARTIN FREEMAN), Mary Watson (AMANDA ABBINGTON) and Sherlock Holmes (BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH) Copyright: Hartswood Films 2016. Sherlock season 4 in pictures Amanda Abbington, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Martin Freeman in Sherlock Sherlock, Season 4 premieres January 1, 2017 on MASTERPIECE onÂ PBS. Picture shows: Mary Watson (AMANDA ABBINGTON), Sherlock Holmes (BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH) and John Watson (MARTIN FREEMAN) Hartswood Films 2016

“Go and read a children’s book with hard pages if you don’t want to be challenged. We’re making the show we want to make. We don’t make it a certain way because fans are pressuring us.”

Gatiss also spoke about the lengths they go to in order to keep certain twists a secret, watermarking absolutely everything.