Sherlock to return for new series in 2015

The BBC has also confirmed a one-off special will air before the series

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the lead in BBC drama Sherlock (Hartswood Films)

The BBC has revealed that hit detective drama Sherlock will return for a special, followed by “the most shocking and surprising” series yet.

Shooting on the special is scheduled to begin in January 2015 with filming for the three-episode series due to start later next year.

A series of tweets posted on the official Sherlock Twitter feed told fans that “after the briefest of exiles, Sherlock will return to face one of his biggest mysteries yet”.

Another picture of the super sleuth’s nemesis, Jim Moriarty, was posted, along with a caption pondering why his face is “being broadcast on every television in the land”.

A tweet yesterday confirmed the exciting news would be revealed this afternoon at 2.21pm, sending the show's dedicated fanbase into overdrive.

The hit detective drama, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson, was last seen on screens in January this year.

Since then, fans have been concerned by a number of rumours about the drama, including reports that the show will not be returning until 2016, and that it will return as a one-off special with no series.

Freeman dropped the recent strong hint that fans can expect a Christmas special in 2015.

"I think that might be for next Christmas. A Christmas special. That's what I understand," he told The Telegraph. "I'm speaking off-message here; if this was New Labour I'd get fired."

If the latest teaser picture is anything to go by, Moriarty, played by Andrew Scott, looks set for a comeback.

He made an appearance in the third episode of series three despite being seen shooting himself in the second series finale.