Fans of Sherlock will be able to view the final episode of the show’s fourth series on the big screen as it will be broadcast at cinemas across the UK on its air date.
A one-night screening of the episode The Final Problem will be shown in more than 300 cinemas in the UK and Ireland with participating chains including Vue, Empire, Cineworld and Odeon.
The “dramatic” episode will air on January 15, with the broadcast time yet to be announced.
Viewers who manage to get a ticket will be treated to content exclusive to cinemas.
On January 1 this year a one-off episode of Sherlock – The Abominable Bride – was screened in more than 100 cinemas as well as on television.
Sherlock producer Sue Vertue said: “Fans clearly enjoyed the opportunity of watching The Abominable Bride in cinemas last time so Hartswood Films are thrilled to be working with BBC Worldwide again to do the same for this series four finale.”
Mat Way, BBC Worldwide’s commercial director of live entertainment, said: “The incredible filmic qualities of Sherlock make it perfect cinema viewing.
“We are delighted to be able to offer the UK and Irish fans the opportunity to enjoy the epic Sherlock finale on the big screen.”
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman will be back in their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson respectively when the new series arrives on TV screens in the new year.
The first episode of the hotly anticipated fourth series, The Six Thatchers, will air on BBC One on New Year’s Day at 8.30pm.
The second instalment is set to air on January 8.
Cumberbatch previously told the Press Association there might be a long wait for the fifth series after the fourth reaches its dramatic conclusion.
He said: “I think there will be a lull. I don’t think it will be in a year and a half necessarily, but we will wait and see and maybe it will be.
“First and foremost, we have got a fourth series for people to watch and understand and when they watch it they might go ‘Oh yeah, maybe there does need to be a break now’ because of what happens in it. No spoilers!”
The first series of the programme, created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat and based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, debuted in 2010.
The second series followed in 2012 and the third in 2014.