Tail Between My Legs

Back in October, hearing that Jonathan Pryce is to make his return to British TV, playing Sherlock Holmes in a new two-part adaptation for BBC1, I wrote:

What can a new adaptation provide other than a different actor under the deerstalker?

Having watched the wonderful two-part drama Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars, broadcast on the past successive Sunday afternoons, I humbly stand corrected.


The original drama found the gang of street urchins, who first appeared in Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1887 A Study in Scarlet, having to solve the mysterious disappearance of two of their own while Holmes is under house arrest and accused of "muuuurrr-DAH!".

Pryce was a terrific Holmes and Bill Paterson was marvellous as Doctor Watson. Even better, not one of the kids overplayed their roles. I even smiled as, in the final shot, an orchestral snatch of Little Green Bag played as the Irregulars walked towards camera. All the more remarkable given that I loathe virtually anything that has the names Quentin and Tarantino attached to it.

Hopefully the BBC will make more in the series because one thing British television desperately needs are more decent dramas aimed at children that can be watched by adults.