This year’s Sherlock Christmas special is set to become a global event like never before, with the episode set to be screened in cinemas around the world. According to the Radio Times, the special episode will be shown in a number of countries including China, where the show has a massive fanbase.

SherlockBenedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in ‘Sherlock’.

While the full list of countries is not yet confirmed, the 90 minutes special will be shown in China, where over 98 million viewers reportedly watch the show illegal on platforms such as Youku.

The episode sees Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs, Louise Brealey and Amanda Abbington joining Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman and is thought to take place in Victorian England.

The move to screen the episode in China comes after the BBC inked a deal with the country’s Shanghai Media Group, will see them work together on two of the broadcaster’s biggest franchises, ‘Earth’ and ‘Sherlock’.

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According to Variety, BBC Earth Films and SMG Pictures, will co-produce feature film ‘Earth: One Amazing Day, a sequel to box office hit ‘Earth’. SMG Pictures will then distribute the film in China. It will be the first feature film to be produced under the new U.K. and China film co-production treaty, which was agreed on back in March.

Speaking about the deal, Tim Davie, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said, “Today’s announcements herald an exciting new collaboration between the Chinese and British creative industries."

"There is a keen appetite in China for premium British content, and creating two new cinematic experiences in partnership with SMG Pictures is a landmark moment for two of our biggest brands, ‘Sherlock’ and ‘BBC Earth’."

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“I am delighted that SMG Pictures will be the co-producer of the first feature film to be produced under the landmark U.K. and China film co-production treaty, Wang Jianjun, director-general and president of SMG, commented.

“This milestone event will act as a bridge between Sino-U.K. cultural exchanges and set up a new model for Sino-U.K. collaboration,” Wang added. The deal will be formally signed at a ceremony in London on Wednesday by Wang and Paul Dempsey, the president of global markets at BBC Worldwide.