'Sherlock' special to air on PBS Jan. 12

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- PBS says it plans to air a special called "Unlocking Sherlock" Jan. 12, a week ahead of the U.S. premiere of Season 3 of the British mystery series, "Sherlock."

The one-hour program "Unlocking Sherlock" explores how writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss created the contemporary London-set series, "Sherlock," starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as iconic sleuths Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.

The special will be available for streaming on PBS.org, beginning Wednesday. Season 3 kicks off on PBS Jan. 19.

"As excitement builds for the new season of 'Sherlock' on Masterpiece, we invite viewers to join us as we delve into the writers' inspiration for the modern-day Sherlock Holmes that has captivated fans nationwide," Beth Hoppe, chief programming executive and general manager of general audience programming for PBS. "This special highlights the transformation of [19th century author] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most-portrayed character into a cultural phenomenon."