Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has praised the show’s fans.

Cumberbatch and the show’s co-creator Mark Gatiss spoke to Digital Spy at last night’s (May 27) Arqiva British Academy Television Awards.

“We love doing [the show],” said the actor. “We’re very fond of it, and we adore our audience - they’re smart and intelligent and ever-growing, which is wonderful.”

Gatiss revealed that he will write the Sherlock series three premiere, which will be loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventure of the Empty House.

“It’ll be a version of it, because that’s the one in which [Sherlock] returns,” he explained. “How much or how little [we change], I don’t know yet.

“As before, we cherry pick and we choose bits and pieces of other [stories] that we like. They’re always less literal adaptations.”

Gatiss will also re-team with Sherlock co-creator Steven Moffat on Doctor Who, writing a 2013 episode of the sci-fi drama.

“It’s for the new companion, Jenna-Louise Coleman,” he confirmed. “That’s all I can tell you or I will actually be shot!”

Steven Moffat recently revealed to Digital Spy that series three of Sherlock will begin filming in January.