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I was thrilled!

And then I wentyoure mad, what?

The first pitch was quite light.

And it really is.

Its so nice to play him in his era.

It feels easier to a degree.

Yet it doesnt feel like cliche because youre functioningin themrather than quoting them.

Has the change in period affected your performance?

Im sure it has.

Sherlock is more at peace with his surroundings and environment?

A little bit, a little bit.

When hes in full Victorian swing, its a really lovely feeling.

Is he still rude?

Yes, he is still rude because he cuts through mediocrity.

So yeah, he is still rude.

Hes rude to idiots or people who are pompous or sexist…hes quite a crusader in that regard.

Thats always enjoyable to be.

Whats the relationship between him and Watson?

Is Watson more in awe of Holmes?

I think theres always a bit of respect rather than awe.

Is there still the bromance?

you’re able to be the first!

Strive for change in the press.

Golly Holmes or some kind of Nigel Bruce-esque adoration, its more complex than that.

It is an examination of what they were in the original stories but with our flavour.

Its that very delicate balancing act.

Is there an element of mischief in deciding to do this now?

No, not too much.

Because its confounding what fans are going to expect following a cliff-hanger?

But theres some fun in that?

Youre committed to what youre playing.

Because of the traditional setting, do you feel the weight of other portraits of Holmes?

Not really, no.

Weve established ours and so have others.

Were still very different from the Guy Ritchie version.

This isnt steam-punk action drama, its still our version.

It still has the nuances of the original book with our twists.

There will always be comparisons, always, you cant help that.

As I keep guessing, IthinkIm the seventy-sixth and Robert Downey-Jr is the seventy-fifth.

Do you think you would have wanted to do period Holmes if that was the series?

Very much, very much.

Ive really, really loved it.

Do you almost prefer it?

Theyre too different to compare in some ways.

Yeah, Im really crap at answering favourite questions [laughter].

There must be something satisfying for you about having slicked-back hair and…

Because thats the more familiar.

I dont know any other actor thats been that spoiled with this role.

Well, Rathbone leaped forward to the forties and fought Nazis, so that wastheirversion of it.

Theres quite a lot of modern clobber.

I think Im pretty much the only one thats done that quite so severely as we have.

The original Holmes was a champion boxer.

Are we going to be seeing you fighting?

Yeah, Im always up for more fights.

I keep saying that to them.

I do like throwing myself around a set.

Is your Victorian Holmes quite progressive?

You said earlier that hes calling people out for being sexist and so on?

I think he always was, he was very charming with women.

He gave a lot of people respect that otherwise you wouldnt necessarily have thought in that era he would.

Theres no danger that modern fans might be alienated by a Victorian Holmes?

He defines things as they are, hes very straight with people.

And youre smoking a pipe this time?

Its a pyrotechnic pipe.

Im not smoking it, its an effect.

Even that is fun, just to have that as another part of him.

Again, the props department are having a fantastic time on this job.

All sorts of things are being brought into play.

Steven Moffat once said that youhaveto wear the Belstaff coat in everySherlock.But you dont in this?

Its not contractual [laughter].

Its getting a bit tatty now.

Mark gave me one at the end of the first series, I was like what are you doing?

[laughter] to seal my reputation as being a dick.

So I felt self-conscious about it.

But also, I had to give it back because weve run out of them.

Im sure hell wear his coat again.

Do you think doing a Christmas Victorian episode could become a bit of a tradition?

Keep coming back for more?

Well see how this one goes.

How determined are you to keep making time forSherlock?

Im still enjoying it.

Martin and I started this relatively young compared to a lot of Holmes and Watsons, so why not?

The Abominable Bride airs on the 1stof January 2016 on BBC One, time TBC.

Come back tomorrow to read the set visit round-table interview with Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss.