The actor talks shop about "Sherlock" and the changes dawning upon us in Series Four
Photos: Courtesy of Golden Village
Lots of things have happened for dear old Dr Watson. Played by Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), Sherlock Holmes' best friend is back in the "Sherlock" Series Four as a new father. The first episode, titled "The Six Thatchers", will premiere on 2 Jan on BBC.
The episode accompanies the "Thatcher" teaser that was announced at Comic Con earlier this year. It has been speculated to be loosely based on the Arthur Conan Doyle story, "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons", which focuses on Inspector Lestrade and the search of a hidden pearl.
We previously heard from Benedict Cumberbatch how Sherlock will be coping with the new addition to his life. Now, let's see what Freeman has to say about his on-screen family.
Sherlock (middle, Cumberbatch) looks on as Mary (Amanda Abbington) and John Watson (Martin Freeman) welcome a new member to the family.
How are the Watsons feeling about becoming parents?
John and Mary are very excited about it – it’s their new life together. They’re in a good place, they’re a loving married couple and it’s exciting.
How does John and Mary’s relationship develop from here?
The stakes get higher because you get to know them more and every day their relationship grows without taking away from the central friendship of John and Sherlock.
John and Mary are very happy together and they’ve been through stuff in Series Three that would test any couple, but they’re right through the other side of it and it makes them stronger.
Do you think John has come to terms with Mary’s hidden past?
The John that we see as an audience, on the face of it, has let go of those revelations and I think he’s made peace with them, but who knows? Even I don’t fully know what’s rumbling underneath there.
But I think what overshadows all of it is that he really loves her and wants to make it work. He does truly forgive her for not being honest and he knows that she’s got the same disease that he has, which is that she needs the thrill as much as he does.
She’s never going to be a stay at home Mum – she’s not cut out to be one of those people.
Does playing new parents bring back memories of your own parenting experiences?
We’re reminded of certain things that you forget as parents; you forget what being in charge of a baby is like. Some of it is in the dim and distant recess of your memory and you remember things you did every day for what seemed like forever, but it was a long time ago and so your mind moves on.
So when you’re on a changing table or you’re doing nappy stuff or feeding stuff, it’s certainly like a bolt back to years ago. So yes, that’s been a fun shared memory for us.
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