All the TV news that you need to know… in just 10 minutes.

Here’s one TV mystery that even the great Sherlock Holmes might not be able to solve: how to find time in Benedict Cumberbatch (Holmes) and Martin Freeman’s (Watson) schedules to make a fifth season of Sherlock (2010-current). Benedict dropped a bombshell recently by hinting that the upcoming fourth series may be the last. “It feels like the end of an era, to be honest,” he hinted. Benedict Cumberbatch might’ve done his last season as Sherlock.

An 11th season of The X-Files (1993-2016 – see more on p8) seems a lot more likely now that David Duchovny’s serial killer drama Aquarius (20152016) has been cut after two low-rated seasons. Also getting the chop are cult-cartoons Adventure Time (2010-2016) from Cartoon Network and Disney XD’s Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-2016), plus UK talkshow Alan Carr: Chatty Man (2009-2016) and crime drama Murder In The First (2014-2016). The writing is also on the wall for techthemed drama Halt And Catch Fire (2014-current) and sci-fi horror The Strain (2014-current), both of which will kick off their fourth and final seasons next year.

There are also tons of great series getting renewed, like sitcoms You’re The Worst (20142016) and High Maintenance (2016-current), horror shows American Horror Story (2011current) and Ash vs Evil Dead (2015-2016), futuristic sci-fi series Stitchers (2013-2016), British gameshow 8 Out Of 10 Cats (2005-current) and reality shows The Real Housewives Of Atlanta and New York City (both 2008-current).

Sparks are set to fly in a January 2017 episode of Mom (2013-current) when Bonnie (Allison Janney) faces off against boyfriend Adam’s ( William Fichtner) drunken bestie, played by Bradley Whitford. The casting coup is a nod to fans of political drama The West Wing (1999-2006) in which Bradley played deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman and Allison was press secretary CJ Gregg

for seven seasons. David Duchovny has more free time for The X-Files now.

Rose Leslie quit period drama Downton Abbey’s (2010-2015) Crawley family as housemaid Gwen, then she romanced Jon Snow in fantasy series Game Of Thrones (2011current) as wild- Rose Leslie has swapped fantasy for drama TV.

ling Ygritte. The actress is now adding to her TV CV with a role on another major show – she’s joining The Good Wife’s (2009-2016) spin-off as Diane’s (Christine Baranski) lawyer goddaughter Maia. The show starts airing in early 2017.

Reality show America’s Got Talent (2006-current) is retaining its onair talent in the form of drawcard judge Simon Cowell, who’s signed a deal to appear in three more seasons, effectively renewing the series until season 14 despite its drop in ratings. Cowell replaced former judge Howard Stern last year, giving AGT its highest ratings in five seasons.

Young & Restless (1973-current) viewers shouldn’t expect to see more of villainous Ian Ward – in-demand actor Ray Wise has been made a full-time cast member of sitcom Fresh Off The Boat (2015-current) as Marvin, plus he’s reprising his roles in the TV reboots of Gilmore Girls (2000-2007) and Twin Peaks (1990-1991). Meanwhile, Ian’s former onscreen son Steve Burton, who has played Y&R’s Dylan McAvoy since 2013, has decided to quit. It’s unclear if the role will be recast yet. Days Of Our Lives (1965-current) is revisiting Abe Carver’s (James Reynolds) love life when the soap reintroduces his ex, legacy character Dr Valerie Grant, to the show in episodes that SA viewers will see in a little over three years’ time. The character of Valerie was ground-breaking when she joined Days in the ’70s as she was part of daytime soaps’ first-ever interracial couple. For Valerie’s return, she’s been recast and the role will now be played by former Melrose Place (1992-1999) actress Vanessa Williams, who was also recently seen as Iris’s mom in superhero show The Flash (2014-current).

Sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007-current – see p35) has snagged many high-profile guests, but one who’s said no is William Shatner, most famous for his role as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk (1966-current). Shatner says that he might’ve upset the sitcom’s producers when he shunned their offer to appear as “a heightened version” of himself and told them to “find something that is better” for him to do on the show. Ouch! Acting icon William Shatner won’t be on Big Bang Theory anytime soon.