‘Sherlock’ creator: Holmes is not gay, as much as people want to fantasize

Mar 31 2015
Written by Joseph McCormick

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

One of the co-creators of the popular ‘Sherlock’ series has said although “everyone wants to believe” the show’s title character is gay, “he’s not”.

During the first series in 2010, Watson asked Holmes whether he has a girlfriend. He replied: “Girlfriend, no. Not really my area.”

Speaking in an interview with EW, Steven Moffat, who co-created the series, said: “We walk into that one all the time. It’s a funny thing when a character for over 100 years has been saying, ‘I don’t do that at all.’ He’s been saying it over 100 years! He’s not interested in [sex]. He’s willfully staying away from that to keep his brain pure—a Victorian belief, that. But everyone wants to believe he’s gay. He’s not gay. He’s not straight. And Doctor Watson is very clear that he prefers women. People want to fantasize about it. It’s fine. But it’s not in the show.”

Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Holmes, last year hinted that his character in the hit BBC series Sherlock prefers men to women.

The first teaser trailer featuring Sir Ian McKellen as the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in a film has been released.

The Lord of the Rings star who is 75-years-old will play the role of Sherlock in a film adaptation of Mitch Cullin’s novel, and will again work with his Gods and Monsters filmmaker Bill Condon.