Martin Freeman says new Sherlock series is long way off: 'Parts of it aren't fun anymore'

Martin Freeman has some bad news for expectant Sherlock fans - new episodes are a very long way off.

The actor, who plays John Watson opposite Benedict Cumberbatch's titular detective, has revealed he doesn't find starring in the BBC series much fun anymore due to its immense success around the world.

When asked about if there had been any talk of making new episodes, Freeman told The Telegraph: “Not massively. Um… I think after series four [it] felt like a pause. I think we felt we’d done it for a bit now. And part of it, speaking for myself is [due to] the reception of it."

The British actor is referencing the somewhat critical response to the most recent series which aired in January 2017. Reflecting upon that, he added: “To be absolutely honest, it [was] kind of impossible. Sherlock became the animal that it became immediately. Whereas even with The Office [the sitcom he starred in alongside Ricky Gervais] it was a slow burn. But Sherlock was frankly notably high quality from the outset. And when you start [that high] it’s pretty hard to maintain that.”

“Being in that show, it is a mini-Beatles thing," he continued. “People’s expectations, some of it’s not fun anymore. It’s not a thing to be enjoyed, it’s a thing of: ‘You better f***ing do this, otherwise, you’re a c***.’ That’s not fun anymore."

Freeman - who was promoting new compilation album Jazz on the Corner which he collaborated on with Eddie Piller - recently starred in Marvel film Black Panther as Agent Everett Ross.

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