Martin Freeman clarifies Sherlock comments following Benedict Cumberbatch response

'My point was the expectations can be heavy'

Martin Freeman has clarified his comments that parts of filming hit BBC series Sherlock is "no longer fun."

The British actor made the remarks in March levelling that its immense success around the world has put a strain on his excitement for the series. Following a heated response from co-star Benedict Cumberbatch, he's now elaborated upon his original point.

“My point with Sherlock was that those expectations can be heavy,” he told The Daily Beast. “There’s a certain aspect that some fans are going to run with the ball and make their own thing out of your show - which is completely fair enough, as long as we all acknowledge that that is what is happening.

“I think when you get into a slightly tail-wagging-the-dog scenario, that gets boring, for me. So when people insist that Sherlock is supposed to be this show, when we decide what show it is, it’s like, 'No, this is actually the show we’re making, and that we’ve always made. I know you want to see this happen, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to have to happen.' So that’s what gets, frankly, wearing.”

Freeman also insisted he's “well aware of [the show's] importance in [his] life” adding: “I’m a fan of the show. Unfortunately, that’s the joy of being quoted out of context, and joy of newspapers needing a headline.”

New Sherlock episodes seem a long way off with Freeman telling The Telegraph there hasn't been much chat about returning.

“I think after series four [it] felt like a pause. I think we felt we’d done it for a bit now. And part of it, speaking for myself is [due to] the reception of it,” he said.

The actor, who appeared in Marvel hit Black Panther, also poured water on any hopes for a revival of Ricky Gervais sitcom The Office.

I have no desire to go back to it. It would have to be so miraculously good. Ricky and Steve [Merchant] would have to come with a script that was miraculously good and have a reason to do it that was miraculously good. If it was good enough to do, then I’d do it.

"But I can’t see that it would be, and I can’t see that either of them would want to, because I think both of them have more taste than that."

The actor next stars in Netflix film Cargo which will be released on 19 May.

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