The next season of Sherlock might only be out in 2016

Los Angeles - Sherlock may not return to screens until 2016.

Mark Gatiss, who is the scriptwriter for the show, has announced there will be another season of the crime drama but it may not be for another two years, as they need to fit it around Benedict Cumberbatch - who plays Sherlock Holmes - and Martin Freeman's (Doctor John Watson) busy film schedules.

He told the Metro newspaper: ''Everyone wants to carry on doing Sherlock. It's a simple matter of schedules - particularly Benedict and Martin.

"They've become superstars, which is brilliant, but we all want to carry on as long as we can.

"There was suddenly a kind of outraged response that it might not be back until 2016 but that's precisely how long it always is. It's always two years! But we'd like to return soon, of course.''

The 47-year-old star went on to admit Benedict, 37 - who was voted the world's sexiest movie star - has become the first attractive Sherlock Holmes.

He explained: ''Sometimes the right man and the right part comes along and they fuse.

''I think there is something about Sherlock Holmes, which has possibly always been the case - there's a kind of unapproachability about him. He's not interested in sex... apparently. So you immediately get that Mr. Darcy thing going on.

''He can't be tamed. It's attractive. Those are the people we are attracted to - the ones that aren't interested.

''I think it's that and the combination of the Byronic looks that Benedict has - and the coat - that's made him into, possibly, the first sexy Sherlock Holmes.''