'Sherlock' creator Steven Moffatt insists the show won't be back until they have the "right idea".
Steven Moffatt
The showrunner insists he, co-writer Mark Gatiss and the programme's stars, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, are open to returning for another outing, though it could be "off the earth for quite a long while" as they don't want to just churn out episodes for the sake of it.
Speaking at the BFI and Radio Times Television Festival in London over the weekend, he said: "Neither Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Gatiss, or Martin Freeman are against doing more 'Sherlock's.
"We have a great time making them, it's a very, very nice bunch of people and we enjoy our reunions very much.
"And that means two things, we'd never want to do it if we didn't think we could do it as well as we used to.
"It also means we'll come back to it when we feel we've got the right idea. It could be off the earth quite a long while now.
"But I would be surprised as I've said before, if we never made any more 'Sherlock's."
But the one thing that would stop the programme ever coming back would be if Benedict and Martin dropped out of the series.
He added: "You can admire great cinematography, a great score, great writing, great direction, great production.
"You can admire all those things but you only fall in love with people. And the people you fall in love with are Sherlock, Benedict and Martin.
"You cannot replace them. They are magic, they are the show."
Steven, who is to step down as writer and executive producer of 'Doctor Who' at the end of the year, doesn't think his career can ever get better than being in charge of the sci-fi programme and 'Sherlock' at the same time.
He said: "I mean, I am never ever going to top being the guy who was in charge of 'Doctor Who' and 'Sherlock' at the same time.
"That's not possible. I'm not sure I would even want to top that. That's an amazing thing."
Tagged in Martin Freeman Benedict Cumberbatch Mark Gatiss