Sherlock creators name the female actors they’d like to see take over lead role

Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer were among the suggestions

The creator’s of Sherlock have named the female actors they want to see play Sherlock Holmes.

Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, who adapted Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective stories into the hit BBC One drama, made the remarks while answering questions from fans online.

In the Q&A – which was was held to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Sherlock – the Sherlock creators were posed a question about who they would cast in a gender-flipped version of the show.

“There’s quite a few [possibilities] – I quite like the idea of Michelle Gomez,” said Moffat. Gomez starred in Doctor Who during Moffat’s time writing for the show, appearing as a female incarnation of the Doctor’s arch-enemy, The Master.

Gatiss then named Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator and star of the hit comedy Fleabag, as another candidate.

Moffat suggested Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag co-star Olivia Colman, while Sherlock producer Sue Vertue floated Jodie Comer, known for playing the deadly Villanelle in Killing Eve.

“I think we could sit here [and] generate quite a lot of names of female Sherlock Holmes,” said Moffat. “I think that part would go female very easily. I don’t think you have to do anything.

“Change the pronouns and you don’t even have to change the name. Sherlock Holmes could be a woman quite easily. ”

However, all parties seemed stumped when confronted with the logical follow-up question: who should play Dr Watson?

In Sherlock the role of Sherlock is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, while Watson is portrayed by Martin Freeman.