‘Sherlock’ season 4: PBS still hoping to figure out ‘Christmas Special’ date in U.S.

We are getting ever closer to December, but still the BBC is staying coy in regards to when the “Sherlock” special, which is coming your way prior to the fourth season, will air. Thanks to this, it is making matters all the more difficult for viewers in America. The general assumption is that the Benedict Cumberbatch – Martin Freeman special, which is set in the Victorian era and features period-appropriate versions of Sherlock and Watson, will air in the United Kingdom at around Christmas, and with the third season of the series, it took a few weeks for the episode to land stateside after the first one premiered on New Year’s Day:

Show executive producer Steven Moffat was in attendance today at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills along with Rebecca Eaton of Masterpiece, and she told the crowd of journalists that they really are doing what they can to bring the special to American audiences soon on PBS:

“We are all working … and we are in very close touch with BBC. I think we are working very hard on it to not frustrate the fans who know it’s on BBC and want to see it.”

Our feeling is that it is unlikely the show airs on Christmas here in America, but PBS would probably like to have it before the January 3 premiere of “Downton Abbey.” That way, they can take advantage of a slower day of programming elsewhere.

Our dream date? For now, pencil in Sunday, December 27. It’s a couple of days after Christmas (so the BBC gets it first), and most Americans will be around to watch it.

We’ll give you more news on this special as time passes, but be sure to watch the first video teaser if you haven’t already today! Also, you can sign up here to gather up some more TV scoop on all we cover courtesy of our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: BBC One.)