'Sherlock' Season 4 has been confirmed and a Christmas Special is said to be part of the plans before the new season begins.

Sherlock is the contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's much loved Sherlock Holmes detective stories, and the Christmas special storyline could be based on the author's "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle."

Sherlock actor Martin Freeman dropped the bomb that made fans expectant of a possible Christmas special.

"Mark Gatiss may beat me up, but there is an idea for this one-off special that's such a good idea, and as I was listening to it I thought 'we've just got to do this.' And I don't know when we are going to be able to do it, unfortunately. It's a fantastic, really mouth-watering idea. But I really don't know when we are going to get to do it."

However, the Christmas special is not happening this year but is actually slated for a 2015 release, and will be followed by a likely Sherlock Season 4 air date in January, 2016.

Co-creator and actor Mark Gatiss could not hide his excitement over the news of the Sherlock team coming together for its fourth season.

"It's always special to return to Sherlock but this time it's even more special as we're doing...a Special! Not only THAT, we'll then be shooting three more episodes which will take Sherlock and John Watson into deeper and darker water than ever before...The whole 'Sherlock' team are terrifically excited to return for four new adventures. The Game is on — again!"

Meanwhile, the mega-hit BBC crime drama series reaped three nominations for major accolades at the 2014 Emmy Awards.

The dramatic finale, Sherlock: The Last Vow, was critically acclaimed and will vie for the Outstanding TV Movie award.

While Benedict Cumberbatch leads the British invasion of the Emmy Awards when he scooped up a nomination for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie" category, while his co-star Martin Freeman was shortlisted for the "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie."

Cumberbatch will go up against fellow British actors Chiwetel Ejiofor nominated for "Dancing on the Edge," Idris Elba for "Luther" and Martin Freeman (second nomination) for "Fargo."