16 Years Later, The BBC Has Officially Found Its Sherlock Replacement

Published Aug 9, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT El is a Junior TV Features Editor for ScreenRant, with previous experience as The Mary Sue's UK and Weekend Editor. She holds a Bachelor's in International Media and Entertainment Management, as well as an MA and Ph.D. in Creative Writing. There is little she loves more than discussing her favorite TV shows with fellow fans. One day, she hopes to publish an original fantasy novel. After 16 years, the BBC has finally found the perfect Sherlock replacement. Though the BBC has produced dozens, if not hundreds, of successful crime and detective dramas over the years, from Luther to Shetland to Happy Valley to Line of Duty and more recent hits like Ludwig, few have ever reached the heights of Sherlock at its peak. After its debut in 2010, Sherlock became a global phenomenon, inspiring a new wave of Arthur Conan Doyle adaptations and, even more notably, over 120,000 works of fanfiction on Archive of Our Own. What set Sherlock apart from its peers, other than Benedict Cumberbatch's incredible performance as the world's most famous sleuth, was the way it brought Sherlock Holmes' adventures firmly into the 21st century. The four-season show cleverly adapted Doyle's stories for modern audiences, complete with cell phones, the internet, computer codes, forensic evidence, and the ever-present annoyance of the British tabloid press. Sherlock did something brand-new with the great detective, reminding audiences why he's still, well over a century later, one of the most beloved fictional characters of all time. Now, however, the BBC and BritBox may have finally found a true replacement for Sherlock, all these years later. One of the few authors who could compete with Conan Doyle's legacy is, of course, the "Queen of Crime" herself, Agatha Christie, with characters like the unassuming yet clever Miss Marple and the Belgian mustachioed detective Hercule Poirot easily rivaling Sherlock Holmes in popularity. Following Kenneth Branagh's recent big-screen interpretation, Poirot will soon be returning to the small screen — with a twist. The BBC's New Agatha Christie Adaptation Is Borrowing Sherlock's Approach Though the BBC's and BritBox's new series, Hercule, isn't bringing Christie's detective into the 21st century the way Sherlock did for Sherlock Holmes, it will offer a similarly fresh angle on one of crime fiction's most famous characters. Edward Bluemel, of My Lady Jane, Agatha Christie's Seven Dials, and Belgravia: The Next Chapter fame, will play the youngest version of Hercule Poirot ever seen on-screen. Set between World War I and World War II, as Poirot arrives in London, the series, consisting of six episodes, will reimagine three of Christie's most popular stories as the young sleuth establishes himself as a detective and forms relationships with important characters like Captain Arthur Hastings and Scotland Yard's very own Inspector James Japp. Per the BBC, Hercule has been described as "a love letter to Agatha Christie and a fascinating new perspective on an iconic figure." Edward Bluemel is 33 years old. David Suchet was 43 when he first appeared on TV as Hercule Poirot. Bluemel will have big shoes to fill, with David Suchet having last played the character in a series format in ITV's enduringly popular Agatha Christie's Poirot. Still, because the show will introduce viewers to a much younger, less accomplished version of Poirot, Bluemel will be able to make the character entirely his own, just as Cumberbatch was able to interpret what Sherlock Holmes might act like in a new age of social media and other modern technology. Does Hercule Poirot Really Need The Sherlock Treatment? There has been an undeniable deluge of remakes, reboots, and prequels lately. Many of them have felt unnecessary, an easy way to lure audiences in with a recognizable name or brand. New adaptations of iconic characters like Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes only work if they provide a genuinely novel experience, something the audience has never seen before. It certainly feels like Hercule is set to do just that, thankfully, following in the footsteps of recent successful shows like Sherlock, Elementary, and the similarly prequel-minded Young Sherlock. All of those stories completely reinvent Conan Doyle's work; Elementary was not only a present-day Sherlock Holmes story but also moved the detective over to New York City, working with Dr. Joan Watson rather than John Watson. Guy Ritchie's Young Sherlock is a fun, Victorian-era series that, much like Hercule, offers a glimpse of the detective as he's never been seen before, less experienced yet no less brilliant. After Branagh's well-received but ultimately quite safe and familiar take on Christie's stories, it feels like the perfect time to mix things up and try something new. Bluemel's surprisingly attractive, young Poirot can introduce this literary icon to a new generation of viewers, embracing the character's virtually limitless potential. Hopefully, the BBC and BritBox's Hercule will be just as successful as Sherlock during its heyday. Hercule is expected to premiere on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and BritBox next year. Release Date 2010 - 2017-00-00 Network BBC One Showrunner Steven Moffat Directors Paul McGuigan, Nick Hurran, Euros Lyn, Jeremy Lovering, Rachel Talalay, Colm McCarthy, Toby Haynes Writers Steve Thompson Franchise(s) Sherlock Holmes Creator(s) Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat