'Sherlock' Christmas special 2015: Steven Moffat says special has 'proper scary mystery'

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in the holiday special episode of "Sherlock." facebook.com/Sherlock.BBCW

After enduring a long time without a fresh episode of "Sherlock," fans will only have to wait for a month to see the highly anticipated holiday special dubbed "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride."

Instead of the usual Christmas airing of the special standalone episode, the upcoming special will air in New Year 2016. Filming of the one-episode special began on Jan. 5, 2015 and concluded on Feb.10, 2015.

The standalone episode is set during the Victorian times, where Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) travel back to 1895 to try to solve the mystery behind the crimes allegedly committed by a ghost.

According to the synopsis for the holiday special episode of "Sherlock," a man named Thomas Ricoletti was shocked upon seeing his wife wearing her old wedding gown just hours after she committed suicide.

A portion of the synopsis reads:

"Mrs. Ricoletti's ghost now appears to be prowling the streets with an unslakeable thirst for revenge. From fog-shrouded Limehouse to the bowels of a ruined church, Holmes, Watson and their friends must use all their cunning to combat an enemy seemingly from beyond the grave and the final, shocking truth about... the Abominable Bride!"

In a recent interview with Radio Times, series co-creator Steven Moffat revealed that the plot for the upcoming special episode is a new story based on some of the original stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. He also revealed that the episode will provide the type of mystery that "Sherlock" fans have been waiting for.

"I think it's quite a good mystery with quite a good solution, but there's also the ongoing tension between the version of the characters we developed to accommodate the modern setting now sitting in Victorian times," Moffat explained. There's quite a lot to be said about each of the characters and how they survive that time travel."

"Sherlock: The Abominable Bride" premieres in the UK on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, on BBC1.

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Egyptian government grants legal status to 191 churches and affiliated buildings
Egyptian government grants legal status to 191 churches and affiliated buildings

Despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, many Christians continue to report discrimination and social pressure.

Violence against religious leaders has been ‘normalised’ in Colombia - the authorities must act to protect them
Violence against religious leaders has been ‘normalised’ in Colombia - the authorities must act to protect them

In 2023 the Colombian government withdrew special protections for religious leaders, leaving them increasingly exposed to the rising tide of violence in the country. These must be restored.

Dilapidated chapel among Britain's 10 most endangered buildings
Dilapidated chapel among Britain's 10 most endangered buildings

Many cemetery chapels are in a state of disrepair and neglect.

Abortions hit record levels in Scotland
Abortions hit record levels in Scotland

Abortions have risen on both a gross and per capita basis.