Lead actor Nicholas Briggs said: "Holmes is drawn to very strong, intriguing women, and that happens here with the character of Esmeralda North. Watson discovers Holmes with her and thinks, oh, have I intruded on something? It's not quite clear what Holmes thinks, and Watson is completely bamboozled.

"It's been really good to play opposite Harriet Kershaw - she's amazing. I haven't worked with her for years and years, and it's lovely when you're reminded of how brilliant someone is. There are so many different layers going on, and it's excellent writing by Jonathan Barnes, always is."

Writer Jonathan Barnes added: “The Amateur Mendicant Society is another story based on a stray reference, tossed in by Doyle and not explained at all, to this club held in a furniture warehouse in London. So we're investigating this, and trying to tell a weird, creepy story in its own right."

On the inclusion of Sherlock's brother Mycroft, Barnes said: "The Sherlock-Mycroft relationship is further evidence of what an incredibly skilled writer Doyle was. Mycroft has this exasperation of the elder brother, but underneath it a real mutual respect and somewhere, love. I've always loved Tim Bentinck's performances as Mycroft, and he and Nick work really well together, so if I can, I will often bring Mycroft back."

Christopher Naylor

Harry Myers

Richard Earl

Harriet Kershaw