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"Sherlock" is not nearing its end date yet despite previous speculations that the third season would be the last for the show. Speaking at the TCA winter press tour on Monday, January 20, co-creator and executive producer Steven Moffat said the show would continue as long as lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch was available.

"Ben Stephenson, who is the head of drama at the BBC, has commissioned it for 50 years, he said, just to settle this question," Moffat quipped. "Yes, it will continue until Benedict gets too famous." Moffat's wife Sue Vertue, who also executive produces the series, added, "He gets precious and just doesn't want to do it."

Cumberbatch himself seemingly gave a confirmation that a fourth season of the British drama series was happening. "I've commissioned it," he told reporters, although BBC has not officially announced a renewal for the show.

Despite his rising fame and busier schedule thanks to his role as the eccentric detective, Cumberbatch doesn't see an end date for him playing the character. "I'm fine with it. I'm going to keep going with it...It's a schedule-providing thing...I love it. I find it very invigorating," he said.

While saying that he usually easily shed the part of Sherlock when it's time to leave it behind, the "Star Trek Into Darkness" actor admitted, "I felt really sentimental about letting him go this time, which I normally don't because he's very hard. I love him to bits, I love the results, sometimes, but it's hard work. And this time I felt really sentimental about it."

Speaking of the addition of Mary Morstan, John Watson's future wife, into the fold, Moffat said, "If you have a female perspective on the two men, it's very, very funny and very illuminating." He planned to keep her on the show in the possible season 4, insisting, "Mary's absolutely here. We don't just off her. How would that be at the start of the next series. 'Where's Mary?' 'Dead!' "

"Sherlock" season 3 airs Sundays at 10 P.M. on PBS Masterpiece.