Sherlock Co-Creator Pumps Breaks On Season 5 Rumors

07/03/2017 09:20 pm EDT

Sherlock fans are known for many things, but the fandom is particularly famous for its sleuthing skills. Fans often post in-depth fan theories about the show online, and rumors about the fifth season of Sherlock never seem to go out of style. But, if you ask Mark Gatiss about such a comeback, the co-creator will be quick to shoot down those reports.

Sherlock wrapped its fourth season in January, leaving fans bereft over the show's absence. No word has been given by the BBC about the fifth season of Sherlock despite ardent fan petitions to keep the show alive. Now, Gatiss is commenting on the show's return, and he's giving news to the fans straight.

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"It was very, very hard to schedule the last series, because of Martin [Freeman] and Benedict [Cumberbatch]'s availability. And Steve [Moffat]'s and mine," Gatiss told the podcast A Stab in the Dark (via Digital Spy).

"There is always that Fawlty Towers principle of, 'Let's just leave it'. We've had the keys to Baker Street for a while, but one of the wonderful things is that they're always shared," he explained. "They were shared while we were making it. There's nothing wrong with saying, 'That was our version, [now] somebody out there go and do their version'."

According to Gatiss, the biggest issue standing in the way of Sherlock's continuation is scheduling. "It's not a lack of will," the co-creator and actor stressed.

Of course, fans shouldn't be surprised about Gatiss' comments; Sherlock has a star-studded cast whose schedules are all over the place. Benedict Cumberbatch is a world-renowned star who recently signed a lengthy contract with Marvel Studios to place Doctor Strange. Martin Freeman also joined the MCU following his leading role in The Hobbit trilogy. And, as for Gatiss and Moffat, the two writers are about to tackle a contemporary adaptation of Dracula for the BBC.

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It doesn't look like plans for a fifth season of Sherlock have been totally scrapped, but fans should not expect it to drop anytime soon. Sherlock is known for having extended hiatuses bridging its seasons. A three-year break nestled itself between the show's third and fourth seasons, so a five-year gap may very well be needed before Sherlock makes another comeback. So, for now, it looks like Sherlock lovers will be singing the 221 B Baker Street Blues until a season five announcement is made.