<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Website </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> PBS Official Website </Td> </Tr> <P> Sherlock is a British crime drama television series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories . Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson . Thirteen episodes have been produced, with four three - part series airing from 2010 to 2017, and a special episode that aired on 1 January 2016 . The series is set in the present day, while the one - off special features a Victorian period fantasy resembling the original Holmes stories . Sherlock is produced by the British network BBC, along with Hartswood Films, with Moffat, Gatiss, Sue Vertue and Rebecca Eaton serving as executive producers . The series is supported by the American station WGBH Boston for its Masterpiece anthology series on PBS, where it also airs in the United States . The series is primarily filmed in Cardiff, Wales, with North Gower Street in London used for exterior shots of Holmes and Watson's 221B Baker Street residence . </P> <P> Sherlock has received critical acclaim, with many reviews praising the quality of the writing, performances, and direction . Sherlock has been nominated for numerous awards including Emmys, BAFTAs and a Golden Globe, winning several awards across a variety of categories . The show won in three categories at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Cumberbatch, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Freeman and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for Moffat . Two years later, it won Outstanding Television Movie . In addition, the show was also honoured with a Peabody Award in 2011 . The third series became the UK's most watched drama series since 2001 . Sherlock has been sold to 180 territories . </P>

Who portrayed watson in the recent bbc show 'sherlock'