Upcoming season of 'Sherlock will be phenomenal: Cumberbatch

London: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has described the next series of 'Sherlock' as 'phenomenal'. The hit BBC drama will return for a Christmas special next year, with a three-part series to follow in 2016, reportedly.

"I can't give any plot away... But their pitch for the Christmas special and the series beyond that is just phenomenal," Cumberbatch said.

"We've never seen ('Sherlock') being really pressed yet, so that will be interesting." The 38-year-old Emmy winner also confirmed that he is keen to make more 'Sherlock' beyond the next four episodes.

"I'd like us to finish on a high, but we'll do it until we don't want to do it anymore," he said. "As long as the ideas are still there and the audience still wants it... I'd love to do it into old age, I really would."

Steven Moffat previously promised that he and 'Sherlock' co-creator Mark Gatiss have a "devastating" plan in place for the new series.