Almost every big TV show manages to somehow leak onto the internet early. Famously, the first few episodes of Game of Thrones season five appeared online, leading to a huge drop in viewing figures.

Hours before the final episode of Sherlock season four aired, a Russian copy of ‘The Final Problem’ appeared online, with hundreds of fans rushing to watch.

Despite the producers asking fans not to share the illegal copy online, viewing figures dropped significantly, the episode holding the show’s lowest-ever overnight UK ratings.

According to the BBC, only 5.9 million people tuned in to watch Benedict Cumberbatch’s latest escapade: for comparison, the first episode of the series drew 8 million viewers while previous Sherlock finales have never dropped below 7 million viewers.

While the leak will likely be blamed for the low figure - which will likely be much higher after consolidated viewing on iPlayer is included - many fans and critics have expressed dismay at the latest season.

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

Following the first episode, numerous think-pieces were written, one labelling Sherlock a ‘grotesque parody’ of itself. Episode two received a better response, yet ‘The Final Problem’ had some hugely negative reviews, The Daily Mail calling it "an abject, flailing, noxious mess", "shockingly bad" and "self-indulgent rubbish”.