“A series of seemingly unconnected crimes stretching from Tibet to India to Germany. Sherlock Holmes has been gone for two years. But someone isn’t quite convinced that he’s dead.”


That’s the tantalisingly brief synopsis for the Sherlock mini episode titled Many Happy Returns, although the extra line of plot detail fails to confirm whether Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman will star.

The seven-minute short was previously believed to be premiering on 25 December but new information released by the BBC confirms fans of the detective series will get an early Christmas present…

Prior to being shown at various intervals between Christmas Day and 2 January, the Sherlock short will be released on BBC iPlayer from around 2:00pm on Christmas Eve before transferring to the red button service, with the Beeb also unveiling the list of times it will be available to watch thereafter:

Wednesday 25 December, 8:25pm-5:30am

Thursday 26 December, 8:00pm-5:30am

Friday 27 December, 8:00pm-5:30am

Saturday 28 December, 8:00pm-5:30am

Sunday 29 December, 8:00pm-1:05am

Monday 30 December, 8:00pm-5:30am

Tuesday 31 December, 8:00pm-5:30am

Wednesday 1 January, 10:20pm-5:30am

Thursday 2 January, 8:00pm-5:30am

Sherlock returns for three new episodes, beginning on Wednesday 1 January at 9:00pm on BBC1


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