Sherlock fans’ fury at £3,000 tickets to show

BENEDICT Cumberbatch’s return in the title role of Sherlock made it the most watched programme of the festive season, beating even the Queen’s speech. Far from thanking viewers, however, fans are being charged up to £2,995 each to attend this year’s Sherlock convention.

Organised by co-producers Hartswood Films, the convention in October will feature props and costumes from the show as well as discussion panels and meet-and-greet opportunities.

The £2,995 VIP ticket includes access to all three days of the Birmingham convention, a T-shirt and drinks reception, among other perks. But the staggering price has provoked fans. ‘Have you seen the prices??!!’ one fan wrote on the event’s Facebook page. ‘They’re ridiculous.’

Another wrote: ‘£2,995 for VIP. Wow — and that’s without guests confirmed.’

The VIP ticket also includes a ‘presigned Benedict Cumberbatch autograph’, although Hartswood has yet to confirm whether the actor — or any of the show’s other stars — will attend.

A one-day adult ticket starts at £45, a 32 per cent increase on last year’s price.

News of the prices, which were released last week, days after the first episode of Sherlock’s fourth series was broadcast on BBC1, follows outrage at Cumberbatch’s failure to attend last year’s convention. His co-star Martin Freeman, who plays Dr Watson, was also a no-show and no refunds were offered.

Doubtless there will be even more difficulty ensuring the show’s main trio will be there this year since Amanda Abbington, who played Freeman’s wife, the character killed off last week, has broken up with him off-screen.

Announcing their split last weekend, Abbington, who has two children with Freeman, said appearing opposite him on screen as their real-life relationship crumbled was ‘so weird’.