Benedict Cumberbatch says Sherlock special’s Victorian setting was ‘madness’ 

Benedict Cumberbatch says he wasn\'t originally convinced by the special\'s Victorian setting

The 39-year-old actor, who we recently got the first glimpse of as Marvel superhero Doctor Strange, said that the idea was seemed ludicrous when he first read the script.

Speaking to the BBC, Cumberbatch revealed: "I thought it was madness."

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But The Imitation Game star quickly changed his mind when creator Steven Moffat explained the idea to him.

He added: "I thought they had finally lost the plot, jumped the shark, all the other cliches of television gone mad. 

Creator Steven Moffat explained the idea to Benedict in full, winning him over

"Then they explained the idea and pitched it to me properly, and I think it is fantastic - absolutely brilliant".

The Abominal Bride, which aired on New Year\'s Day, harks back to Sir Arthur Conen Doyle\'s original narrative, which was penned and depicted during the Victorian era.

The BBC version is normally set in the present, with Sherlock and sidekick Watson solving modern-day crimes.

Benedict says that there could be more specials in the offing if work schedules permit

The BAFTA winning show will start filming on the fourth series this year

Meanwhile, Cumberbatch has hinted that there could be more specials in the pipeline, if filming a regular series becomes too difficult.

The Brit-star told The Radio Times: "I think if it becomes impossible to schedule a season every year, year and a half then yeah, absolutely, why not?"

A fourth series of the show has been commissioned, and filming will commence early this year.

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