Benedict Cumberbatch's super sleuth is back! Sherlock creator teases return of detective show with cryptic skull snap

Published: 15:34 EST, 30 March 2016 | Updated: 17:53 EST, 30 March 2016

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Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss has sent twitter users into a frenzy on Wednesday.

The 49-year-old actor and writer took to the microblogging site to share a snap of Sherlock's in-house skull sporting bizarre glasses, much to the delight of his 634,000 followers.

He captioned the snap: 'I spy series four...' in a move which will no doubt thrill devoted followers as their last sighting of Benedict Cumberbatch's depiction of the sleuth was in January.

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They're back! Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss has sent twitter users into a frenzy when he shared a snap of Sherlock's in-house skull sporting bizarre glasses, much to the delight of his 634,000 followers

Mark, who plays Sherlock's brother Mycroft in the BBC show, posted the snap, which seemed to be taken in Sherlock's famed 221 Baker Street residence.

The flat is instantly recognisable, even in the close-up snap, due to the decaying wallpaper, wooden mantle and the just-visible corner of a mirror.

The third season of the show, which also stars Martin Freeman, concluded in 2014 yet a special episode, The Abominable Bride, aired in January ahead of filming the fourth season.

To Baker Street! He captioned the snap: 'I spy series four...' in a move which will no doubt thrill devoted followers as their last sighting of Benedict Cumberbatch's depiction of the sleuth was in January

Executive producer and co-creator Stephen Moffat confirmed in 2014 that the fourth season had been commissioned yet this is the first sign of action.

As well as whispers over the fourth season, there has also been much furore over the suggestion that the show could be made into a movie.

Despite excitement from fans, Gatiss insists that because each episode is 90 minutes they closely resemble movies as it is.

The brothers grimm: Mark, who plays Sherlock's brother Mycroft in the BBC show, posted the snap, which seemed to be taken in Sherlock's famed 221 Baker Street residence

He said: 'Of course we could do a movie but it would have to be a story of sufficient scale to make that move, because they’re already very big, very expensive and very movie-like.

'We don’t want to just send the cast away on holiday.'

Last May Moffat announced that filming would kick off in April, although the show is not set to air until next year.

In a recent interview Benedict stunned fans when he revealed his reluctance to take the role which shot him to superstardom.

Unsure... In a recent interview Benedict stunned fans when he revealed his reluctance to take the role which shot him to superstardom

Talking to CNN's Talk Asia, the 39-year-old revealed he had initial reservations about taking on the detective role, fearing the widespread fame the part would inevitably bring.

He said: 'I was very wary having done roles which were challenging and terrific and, you know kept a good career going.

'I was very wary about stepping into the limelight and the populist role like Sherlock Holmes but the minute I saw who was involved and read the script and the quality of it I thought I've got to do this.'