BBC Tweets New Official Photo of Victorian Holmes and Watson

There have been rumors circulating like crazy surrounding Season 4 of BBC’s Sherlock, from how exactly Moriarty pulled off his fake death to whether or not Irene Adler will make a return cameo. There’s also that little issue of how show co-creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat keep hinting at the season’s tone with words line “tragedy” and “devastating.”

To make matters worse, fans of Sherlock have until late in 2017 when Season 4 begins to stir up even more speculation. Filming doesn’t even begin until 2016.

There’s one thing we do know now, however, is Sherlock Holmes, John and Mary Watson, Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft Holmes, and the entire gang will return to television for a Victorian era special this holiday season. BBC One sealed this promise by tweeting a new official photo of Sherlock stars Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch in full Nineteenth Century garb this week.

This one-time story will have no tie-in to the continuity of the current series set in modern day. Instead, it will stand alone as its own story as a holiday treat for fans of Sherlock in all his forms. No definitive date has been announced, but the special will air as always on PBS in the United States and BBC One in the United Kingdom.

Avid followers of the series have had a chance to see behind-the-scenes photos of the cast on various fan sites, but finally having this officially released photo just seems to enhance the anticipatory excitement for Sherlock lovers.

No matter what Season 4 brings viewers, not to mention no matter when it finally airs, viewers can rest assured the team of Holmes and Watson will return to television this year, if only for a brief and fantastic journey back in time to 1895.