First broadcast: 1984
Stars: Jeremy Brett, David Burke
Based on: The classic novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The lowdown: Jeremy Brett makes the role of the super-sleuth his own in this acclaimed series. Unlike other adaptations, David Burke was given freedom to make his Watson an intelligent and efficient assistant. The series meticulously recreates the Victorian era, and is faithful to Doyle’s original stories of murder and theft.
Memorable moments: When Professor Moriarty (Holmes’s arch enemy) meets the super-sleuth for the first time, he exclaims: “You have less frontal development than I should have expected. It is a dangerous habit to finger loaded firearms in the pocket of one's dressing-gown."
Trivia: The character of Sherlock Holmes was right-handed. As Brett was left-handed, a hand double was used whenever a close-up of Holmes writing was required. Granada recreated Baker Street next to another famous one: Coronation Street.
