Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss has described Benedict Cumberbatch as "irreplaceable".

The Mycroft actor, who writes the show alongside Steven Moffat, reiterated that the programme is so hard to film due to the lead stars' hectic schedules.



"If Benedict went under a bus tomorrow it would be the end of the show," Gatiss told The Mirror. "Benedict and Martin [Freeman] are our stars.

"We do three episodes a year and although people want more that's all we can do. They are both so famous now it's increasingly difficult to get them."

He added: "Sherlock made Benedict a star and I know he is eternally grateful to the show - he wants to do more.

"Martin is similar too as he is in The Hobbit and he's doing a new show in Canada with Billy Bob Thornton, a TV version of Fargo.

"They are both major stars but they both want to carry on. We just have to try and make the days work, that's all."

BBC



Gatiss also spoke about fans' reaction to the news that another series may be a while off.

He said: "There was suddenly a kind of outraged response that it might not be back until 2016 but that's precisely how long it always is.

"It's always two years! But we'd like to return soon, of course."

Gatiss recently told Digital Spy that he is open to a League of Gentlemen comeback and promised an "exciting [and] disturbing" Doctor Who debut for Peter Capaldi.

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