It's been confirmed by both the BBC and the show's writer Mark Gatiss today that shooting for series four of the massively popular Sherlock has begun.

It's been over two years since we last had a full season of the award winning drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, although there was a Christmas special last year, which was the most watched programme over the festive season.

Gatiss announced the news via a video on Twitter earlier today;

According to the BBC, series four will begin with the detective back on home soil while Doctor Watson and his wife Mary are preparing to become parents for the first time.

Cumberbatch said he was "genuinely thrilled to be back filming Sherlock with all the cast and crew. I can't wait for everyone to see season four. But you will have to wait... though not for long... And it will be worth it."

While co-creators, writers and executive producers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss said: "Sherlock series four - here we go again! Whatever else we do, wherever we all go, all roads lead back to Baker Street - and it always feels like coming home. Ghosts of the past are rising in the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson bringing adventure, romance and terror in their wake. This is the story we’ve been telling from the beginning. A story about to reach its climax..."

There's nothing yet on when we can see this three-part fourth season on our screens but for now, we can be content in the knowledge that it's definitely on the way.