Fans will be glad to know that they weren't the only ones who were totally baffled when it surfaced that the next episode of 'Sherlock' will be in a Victorian setting. Star Benedict Cumberbatch was equally unconvinced that it would work, but now insists that it's an excellent idea.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in SherlockRaise your hand if you're intrigued to see where Victorian 'Sherlock' takes us

When the idea for the upcoming feature length special 'The Abominable Bride', which comes an agonising two years following the last episode of season 3, to be set in 1895 was first pitched to Cumberbatch, he confessed that he was worried about the direction the writers were taking and whether or not the fans would be accepting of this new turn of events.

'I thought they'd finally lost the plot, jumped the shark', he revealed in The Guardian. 'Then they expanded the idea and pitched it to me properly and I think it's fantastic. Absolutely brilliant.' Well, that's some comfort, at least, for those viewers still worried about the future of their beloved modern day Holmes.

More: Here's everything you need to know about 'The Abominable Bride'

Plus, we've had plenty of time to get used to the idea; Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman et al have been seen all across London filming for the show over the last couple of years - in between their shoots for major Hollywood movies. 'We can't disguise the fact that we're often filming it in cities or public places where people are going to take snapshots of us dressed in Victorian kit', says Cumberbatch. 'We haven't disappointed fans in the past it seems so hopefully this won't - I hope they enjoy it.'

Since the last episode - 'His Last Vow' - was aired in January 2014, Cumberbatch has scooped an Oscar nominated for his role in 'The Imitation Game' and starred alongside Johnny Depp in 'Black Mass'. Martin Freeman has been equally busy with the likes of 'The Hobbit' and 'Fargo'.

'The Abominable Bride' is set to air on January 1st 2016.