'Sherlock' Victorian-era special gets title and air date

BOSTON, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Masterpiece, PBS and the BBC have a New Year's treat for Sherlock fans.

Their 90-minute, one-off, Victorian era-set special Sherlock: The Abominable Bride will premiere on Jan. 1. This is the first time a Sherlock program will debut in the United States on PBS and in the United Kingdom on the BBC on the same day.

"Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in the acclaimed modern retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories," a news release said. "But now, our heroes find themselves in 1890s London. Beloved characters Mary Morstan, Inspector Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson also turn up at 221b Baker Street."

The fourth season of Sherlock, which returns the sleuths to contemporary London, is to start shooting in the spring.