Sherlock special 2016: What time is it on? Which cinemas are showing The Abominable Bride?

All the details on how to watch the highly-anticipated episode, 'The Abominable Bride'

(BBC)

Though we'll be left waiting until 2017 for Sherlock's full return to screen with season 4, fans have been put in store for a rather delightful holiday gift with a brand-new Christmas special.

The Abominable Bride sees Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman's Dr. Watson returned to their Victorian roots, trailing London's streets in 1895 on the hunt for the apparent vengeful ghost of a suicidal bride.

It's a televisual treat both for fans and for the actors themselves. Indeed, Cumberbatch has previously enthused about the return to roots, “You feel some of the weight is taken off you. You're no longer trying to establish this man in the 21st century. The other gorgeous thing about going back in time is that you can actually look to the books for source material, which I always do for our version anyway, but it's even more qualifiable to lean on them for inspiration.”

This is the first time a Sherlock episode will be shown at cinemas simultaneously with the episode broadcast on TV, making it one of the festive season's true, must-see events. Here's all the details you need to know below. 

Where can I see the Sherlock Christmas Special on TV?

The episode will air on New Year's Day (1 January 2016), at 9pm on BBC One. 

How long is it?

The special lasts 1 hour, 30 minutes. 

Will the show be on BBC iPlayer?

Yes, 'The Abominable Bride' will become available on iPlayer shortly after it's aired on TV. 

Will it be available to buy?

It will be available to download from iTunes on 2 January, followed by a release onto DVD and Blu-ray on 11 January. 

Where can I see the Sherlock Christmas Special at the cinema?

The episode will be screened at the following cinemas, starting at 8.25pm.

Aberdeen: Vue Aberdeen

Aberdeen: Cineworld Aberdeen Union Square

Aldershot: Cineworld Aldershot

Ashford: Cineworld Ashford

Ashton Under Lyne: Cineworld Ashton-Under-Lyne

Basingstoke: Vue Basingstoke Festival

Belfast: Odeon Belfast

Birmingham: Cineworld Birmingham Broad Street

Birmingham: Odeon Birmingham New St.

Blackburn: Vue Blackburn

Blackpool: Odeon Blackpool

Boldon Colliery: Cineworld Boldon Tyne & Wear

Bradford: Odeon Leeds Bradford

Braintree: Cineworld Braintree

Brighton: Cineworld Brighton

Bristol: Vue Bristol Cribbs

Broughton: Cineworld Broughton

Camberley: Vue Camberley

Cambridge: Vue Cambridge

Cardiff: Odeon Cardiff

Castleford: Cineworld Castleford

Chelmsford: Odeon Chelmsford

Cheltenham: Cineworld Cheltenham

Chichester: Cineworld Chichester

Clwyd: Odeon Wrexham

Co.Limerick., Ireland: Odeon Limerick

Conwy: Cineworld Llandudno

Coolock, Ireland: Odeon Coolock

Crawley: Cineworld Crawley

Dublin: Cineworld Dublin

Dundee: Odeon Dundee

Eastbourne: Cineworld Eastbourne

Eastleigh: Vue Eastleigh

Edinburgh: The Cameo

Edinburgh: Vue Edinburgh Omni

Edinburgh: Cineworld Edinburgh

Edinburgh: Odeon Edinburgh Lothian Rd

Ellesmere Port: Vue Cheshire Oaks

Exeter: Vue Exeter

Falkirk: Cineworld Falkirk

Fife Leisure Park: Odeon Dunfermline

Finglas, Ireland: Odeon Charlestown

Garston: Vue Watford

Glasgow: Cineworld Glasgow

Glasgow: Odeon Glasgow Quay

Gloucester: Cineworld Gloucester Quay

Guildford: Odeon Guildford

Hamilton: Vue Hamilton

Harrow: Vue Harrow

Henley-on-Thames: Regal Picturehouse

Hull: Odeon Hull

Inverness: Vue Inverness

Ipswich: Cineworld Ipswich

Isle of Wight: Cineworld Isle of Wight

Jersey: Cineworld Jersey

Leeds: Vue Leeds Light

Leicester: Vue Leicester

Lincoln: Odeon Lincoln

Liverpool: Odeon Liverpool One

Livingston: Vue Livingston 

London - Brixton: The Ritzy

London - Clapham: Clapham Picturehouse

London - Covent Garden: Odeon Covent Garden

London - East Dulwich: East Dulwich Picturehouse

London - Enfield: Cineworld Enfield

London - Finchley Road: Vue Finchley Road

London - Greenwich: Odeon Greenwich 

London - Greenwich: Greenwich Picturehouse

London - Islington: Vue Islington

London - Leicester Square: Vue West End

London - O2: Cineworld O2

London - Piccadilly Circus: Picturehouse Central

London - Stratford Picturehouse

London  - Wandsworth: Cineworld Wandsworth

London - Westfield: Vue Westfield

London - Westfield Stratford: Vue Westfield Stratford

London - Wimbledon: Odeon Wimbledon 

Manchester: Cineworld Didsbury

Manchester: Odeon Manchester Printworks

Manchester Salford Quays: Vue Manchester Lowry

Middlesbrough: Cineworld Middlesborough

Central Milton Keynes: Cineworld Milton Keynes 0

Central Milton Keynes: Odeon Milton Keynes Stadium

Newbury: Vue Newbury

Newcastle Under Lyme: Vue Newcastle UL

Newport: Cineworld Newport

North Shields: Odeon Newcastle Silverlinks

Northampton: Cineworld Northampton

Norwich: Vue Norwich

Norwich: Odeon Norwich

Nottingham: Cineworld Nottingham

Oxford: Vue Oxford

Oxford: Odeon Oxford George St.

Plymouth: Vue Plymouth

Portsmouth: Vue Portsmouth

Ramsgate: Vue Thanet

Reading: Vue Reading

Rochester: Cineworld Rochester

Sheffield: Vue Sheffield

Sheffield: Odeon Sheffield

Sheffield: Cineworld Sheffield

Southampton: Odeon Southampton

Southport: Vue Southport

Staines: Vue Staines

Stevenage: Cineworld Stevenage

Swansea: Vue Swansea

Swansea: Odeon Swansea

Swindon: Cineworld Swindon

Taunton: Odeon Taunton

Telford: Odeon Telford

Tunbridge Wells: Odeon Tunbridge Wells

Wolverhampton: Cineworld Wolverhampton

Worcester: Odeon Worcester

Yeovil: Cineworld Yeovil

York: City Screen

York: Vue York