Sherlock's appeal is elementary

They take up residence in the back of our minds, and their names immediately summon up an image the moment they are mentioned.

Everyone knows who they are, what they do, the catchphrases they utter and what they look like.

Sherlock Holmes is one of those.

Since his first appearance in 1887, he has kept his public enthralled. There are few fictional creations who can claim societies founded in their name, museums devoted to their lives and an ever-increasing bank of works based around them across every medium available.

Holmes has been portrayed on film more times than any other character, but for me the definitive version of the great consulting detective has always been Jeremy Brett.

Brett, who played Holmes on TV in the 1980s and 90s, embodied Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation in a way that was almost eerie.

He expertly brought to life the complexities of a troubled genius who can be heartless and cold in one minute and passionate, even playful, in the next.

Holmes fascinated Brett. He was obsessed with being faithful to the original character. He studied the stories in his spare time, and kept a Holmes dossier with him on set so he could check each nuance of Holmes in the script was as it should be.

His was a hard act to follow, so when the BBC decided to revive Holmes, but updated to the modern world, many fans were wary.

But the resulting series was edgy and modern while keeping to the spirit of Conan Doyle’s work – and the casting was spot on.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes owes a lot to Brett’s interpretation – his bored lethargy contrasted with manic leaps of excitement, staccato bursts of laughter and wild hand gestures are pure Brett.

And where creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat easily outdid most adaptations is in the recreation of Holmes’ faithful friend and biographer, Dr Watson.

Poor Watson has been grossly misrepresented over the years. At best he’s the boring, solid, practical one who puts up with Holmes’ eccentricities for unfathomable reasons.

At worst he’s the idiot who is there only to highlight the brilliance of his friend.

But Conan Doyle’s Watson is an intelligent and honourable man, a crack shot and a brilliant doctor, which is how Martin Freeman plays him.

Sherlock is by far and away one of the best dramas of recent times.

The only problem is that it hasn’t been on our screens for nearly two years.

Cumberbatch has been off terrorising the crew of the Starship Enterprise, while Freeman has been treasure-hunting in Middle Earth.

And the BBC has been taunting us for months with trailers proclaiming Sherlock would be back ‘soon’ without specifying when.

But at last the wait is over. Sherlock returns on New Year’s Day. Hurrah!

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