Benedict Cumberbatch almost turned down the role of super-sleuth Sherlock out of fear that it could be “a bit cheap and cheesy”.

The British actor, 37, told an audience at a New York Bafta event he was initially dubious, but thought the part sounded “ really exposing, in a good way, because there would be a lot of focus on it”.

“I heard about it and thought that sounds like an idea to reinfranchise something to make money,” he said, before explaining that the quality of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ writing talents persuaded him to take up the offer.

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“I thought I would read it and then I fell in love with it.”

It was just as well for the actor as the third series of Sherlock was the BBC’s most-watched drama for more than a decade, pulling in an average 11.8 million viewers when it aired in January.

Shape Created with Sketch. Sherlock series three in pictures Show all 17 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Sherlock series three in pictures 1/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes BBC 2/17 Sherlock series three Sherlock gives his unforgettable best man speech 3/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock BBC 4/17 Sherlock series three Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson BBC 5/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson BBC 6/17 Sherlock series three Newspaper proprietor Charles Augustus Magnussen makes Lady Smallwood an offer she can't refuse BBC 7/17 Sherlock series three Lars Mikkelsen as the newspaper proprietor Charles Augustus Magnussen BBC 8/17 Sherlock series three Lindsay Duncan as Lady Smallwood in Sherlock BBC 9/17 Sherlock series three John and Mary get married while Sherlock looks on BBC 10/17 Sherlock series three Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes BBC 11/17 Sherlock series three Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes BBC 12/17 Sherlock series three Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes BBC 13/17 Sherlock series three Louise Brealey as Molly BBC 14/17 Sherlock series three Rupert Graves as DI Lestrade BBC 15/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson BBC 16/17 Sherlock series three Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes BBC 17/17 Sherlock series three Amanda Abbington as Mary Morstan BBV 1/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes BBC 2/17 Sherlock series three Sherlock gives his unforgettable best man speech 3/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock BBC 4/17 Sherlock series three Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson BBC 5/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson BBC 6/17 Sherlock series three Newspaper proprietor Charles Augustus Magnussen makes Lady Smallwood an offer she can't refuse BBC 7/17 Sherlock series three Lars Mikkelsen as the newspaper proprietor Charles Augustus Magnussen BBC 8/17 Sherlock series three Lindsay Duncan as Lady Smallwood in Sherlock BBC 9/17 Sherlock series three John and Mary get married while Sherlock looks on BBC 10/17 Sherlock series three Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes BBC 11/17 Sherlock series three Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes BBC 12/17 Sherlock series three Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes BBC 13/17 Sherlock series three Louise Brealey as Molly BBC 14/17 Sherlock series three Rupert Graves as DI Lestrade BBC 15/17 Sherlock series three Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson BBC 16/17 Sherlock series three Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes BBC 17/17 Sherlock series three Amanda Abbington as Mary Morstan BBV

Cumberbatch, whose most recent film 12 Years A Slave is up for several Baftas, was speaking at “In Conversation” with other screen stars invited to talk about their acting careers.

His role in the Bafta-winning Sherlock has catapulted him to worldwide fame and won him an army of dedicated fans who call themselves the “Cumberb***hes”.

Recently, he amassed even more devotees when he told The Times that his followers should be called “ Cumberpeople” instead.

“I won’t allow you to be my b***hes, it’s not even politeness,” he said. “I think it sets feminism back so many notches.”

Watch Sherlock's cast and crew discuss the third series