Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has described the first episode of the new series, which will reveal how Holmes survived rooftop fall in Series 2’s finale, as “a treat”.

Speaking at the South Bank Show Awards this afternoon, Radio Times reports that Cumberbatch teased: “You are in for an absolute stonker. It’s going to be a treat. It’s a terrific episode.”

Commenting on yesterday’s read-through for the episode, the actor added: “[It was] great, it was really good fun. It’s really lovely to be back.”

Cumberbatch announced earlier today that he and Martin Freeman have signed up for a fourth series of Sherlock, again consisting of three episodes.

Series 3 begins filming next week.

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

What are your hopes for Series 3? Let us know below…

> Buy the Series 1-2 boxset on Amazon.

> Buy the BBC’s official book, Sherlock: The Casebook, on Amazon.

Watch a clip from The Hounds of Baskerville…