It’s been almost a decade since Sherlock ended, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have been spotted together again.

Released in 2010, Sherlock is the BBC’s revolutionary reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The show is a contemporary re-telling, incorporating newer technology and modern forensic techniques. At the center of the show is the partnership between Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes) and Martin Freeman (John Watson), as they navigate modern day London solving crimes and developing a complex friendship.

Most recently, in photos published by TV Insider, Cumberbatch and Freeman were spotted together again on Friday, July 10, at Wimbledon. The former co-stars were photographed sitting together on day 12 of the tournament alongside Cumberbatch’s wife, Sophie Hunter, watching the Men’s Singles Semifinals on Centre Court between Alexander Zverev and British wild card underdog, Arthur Fery.

Sherlock was a massive success, and although there were a lot of talks and rumors about a possible Sherlock season 5, it seemed highly unlikely to return. Speaking at the Italian Global Series Festival back in June 2025, co-creator and co-writer Mark Gatiss said, “Going back is often very difficult.” And as to why it would be difficult to make another season, he added, “Because Benedict and Martin didn’t want to do [it] anymore.”

Both Cumberbatch and Freeman seemed to disagree on the show’s future for a while, as Freeman had said that he didn’t enjoy the process as much as he did when it began and that the fandom surrounding the show was at times stressful. Cumberbatch, however, told The Telegraph, “It’s pretty pathetic if that’s all it takes to let you not want to take a grip of your reality. What, because of expectations? I don’t know. I don’t necessarily agree with that.”

Cumberbatch’s usage of the word “pathetic” sparked a lot of discourse, and it fueled fans’ suspicions that beyond the show, Cumberbatch and Freeman shared a somewhat strained off-screen dynamic. Regarding the situation, Vanity Fair described it saying, “This might be the most politely worded mini-feud in history.” As such, these recent photos of the two Sherlock stars seem to suggest that the “mini-feud” could be over.

Regarding the future then for Sherlock, although there still are no concrete plans for a fifth season, recently, as reported by Digital Spy, co-creator Steven Moffat expressed his desire to return to Sherlock on the Half the Picture podcast, which aired on July 5, 2026. He said, “If I can persuade everybody else, of course I’d revisit it.” The timing for his remarks come only days before Cumberbatch and Freeman were seen together at Wimbledon.

It remains to be seen if the iconic duo’s first public appearance in almost a decade will be a clue of more to come, or just a quelling of possible “mini-feuds.” Sherlock was immensely popular during its run, and even if a return to 221B Baker Street in the form of a fifth season never materializes, the court-side reunion offers a reassuring sign that any past tension between the two stars has softened over the years.

Release Date

2010 – 2017-00-00

Network

BBC One

Showrunner

Steven Moffat

Directors

Paul McGuigan, Nick Hurran, Euros Lyn, Jeremy Lovering, Rachel Talalay, Colm McCarthy, Toby Haynes

Writers

Steve Thompson