Sherlock Victorian-era special titled The Abominable Bride

Speaking at the MCM Comic Con London, writer Steven announced the BBC show will air 1 January

High-end dramas like the BBC's Sherlock perform well with African audiences (Rex Features)

The previously untitled Sherlock Victorian special finally has a name and release date.

Speaking at MCM London Comic Con, Mycroft actor Mark Gatiss announced the one-off BBC special will be called The Abominable Bride.

Alongside Gatiss was writer Steven Moffat, who revealed the show will air 1 January, showing not just on BBC One but also in cinemas around the world.

While the panel, including Amanda Abbington and Sue Vertue, were tight-lipped over possible spoilers, they did speak about the issue of bringing strong female characters to the Victorian era.

"That was a problem," said Moffat. "We realised that Miss Hudson doesn't really speak in the stories and Molly doesn't exist, so we had to tackle that one head on as Sherlock wouldn't be Sherlock without these characters. They're vital and a part of it. We address it fairly head on."

They also spoke about Mycroft's appearance in the special, with Gatiss saying "there's a fair chance" you'll see the character.

Moriarty was also brought up, but they refused to confirm whether he would appear or not. Moving on to talk about series four, they confirmed that writing had begun, with shooting scheduled to begin next year.

Cinema tickets will go on sale 2 November, while the show will air on BBC One, 1 January, in both the UK and US.