Benedict Cumberbatch talks ‘Sherlock’ season 4, the babies, dark episodes and the bloodhound
New Year’s Day not only marks the start of 2017 but also marks the start of Season 4 of hit TV BBC’s popular detective show Sherlock.
Season 4 will pick up with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock back in London with Watson (Martin Freeman) and his wife, Mary (Amanda Abbington), who are preparing for their biggest challenge: the arrival of their baby.
“I think Sherlock feels very protective toward them as a family, but he’s not a natural or a figure of authority when it comes to a newborn,” Cumberbatch said of his relationship to the Watsons and their new baby.
“I hope my skills and interaction with my own are a little bit more engaged than his are! He’s seemingly indifferent, which is comic at times but it’s all underpinned with a deep love, and he’s a guardian angel really.”
Of course, it’s challenging to work with babies on set, but Cumberbatch praised the tikes: “The babies have been pretty amazing, I’m a father and I know how difficult it is to get anything in tune with a baby’s schedule,” who’s wife Sophie is currently expecting their second child.
“It keeps you in the moment and it stops you being precious about your work. I love those elements that make it more difficult.”
Babies weren’t the only addition to the cast list for season 4 as Sherlock has a new canine friend.
Speaking of the bloodhound, Cumberbatch said: “He was very sweet, but was a bit afraid of being in the center of town, afraid of too many people and not great on hard surfaces. We were in [London’s] Borough Market, with lots of people around, on concrete and tarmac. Cut to Amanda literally pulling a bloodhound around London who was supposed to pull her around London. That was fun.”
Season 4 of the show based on the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, has been highly anticipated with Benedict adding that this season is “darker than the previous three” and “goes to extremes”.
Toby Jones taking on the role of villian Culverton Smith with Andrew Scott’s Moriarty’s “death” and “resurrection” being a topic to resolve.