SXSW: ‘Sherlock’ Special to Take Place in Victorian London, Says Moffat

Sherlock co-creator and executive producer Steven Moffat confirmed during a panel discussion at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas, on Monday that the BBC show's Christmas special will be a one-off episode set in Victorian-era London.

Moffat, as quoted by Entertainment Weekly, told the SXSW attendees that: "The special is its own thing. We wouldn't have done the story we're doing, and the way we're doing it, if we didn't have this special. It's not part of the run of three episodes. So we had this to do it - as we could hardly conceal - it's Victorian. [Co-creator Mark Gatiss] and me, we wanted to do this, but it had to be a special, it had to be separate entity on its own. It's kind of in its own little bubble."

While no air date for the Sherlock Special has been officially announced, it is generally expected that it will be before the start of 2016. Moffat also revealed that the special is already "pretty much finished" and that he's happy with how it turned out. He won't say how the two ended up in Victorian London. But that the special will take place there in Victorian London confirmed earlier speculations that the 90-minute episode will literally time jump Sherlock and Watson by some 100 years back in the past. Last month, fans have reported seeing stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman filming Sherlock while dressed in their 19th century clothes.

With the special "pretty much finished," filming for the show's season four proper should also be ready to start by now. After all, Moffat back in August of last year said he and co-creator Gatiss already have plans not only for season four but also season five. Back then, he told reporters that they intend to top Sherlock's highly acclaimed Season Three. Said he: "We have a plan to top it. Actually, I do think our plan is devastating. We practically reduced our cast to tears by telling them the plan. Honestly, Mark and myself are so excited with what we've got coming up, probably more excited than we've ever been about Sherlock.... What's happening with Sherlock is unusual. We will keep coming back to it."