Written by co-creator Mark Gatiss, ‘The Empty Hearse’ sees Benedict Cumberbatch return as Sherlock Holmes alongside Martin Freeman as John Watson, with other returning cast members including Mark Gatiss as Mycroft, Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade, Una Stubbs as Mrs Hudson, and Louise Brealey as Molly Hooper. Amanda Abbington will also make her debut as Mary Morstan in the episode.

It was confirmed yesterday by the BBC that the third series of Sherlock will definitely start airing on BBC One over the Christmas period.

The official synopsis for ‘The Empty Hearse’ reads: “Two years after the devastating effects of [Series 2’s finale] ‘The Reichenbach Fall’, Dr John Watson has got on with his life. New horizons, romance and a comforting domestic future beckon. But, with London under threat of a huge terrorist attack, Sherlock Holmes is about to rise from the grave with all the theatricality that comes so naturally to him. It’s what his best friend wanted more than anything, but for John Watson it might well be a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’! If Sherlock thinks everything will be just as he left it though, he’s in for a very big surprise…”

> Find out all the details on Series 3 so far in our summary.

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> Order Series 3 on DVD on Amazon.

> Buy the Series 1-2 boxset on Amazon.

Watch the Series 3 teaser trailer…