 Sherlock was announced as a single 60 @-@ minute drama production at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in August 2008 , with broadcast set for mid to late 2009 . The intention was to produce a series of six 60 @-@ minute episodes should the pilot prove to be successful . The first version of the pilot — reported by The Guardian to have cost £ 800 @,@ 000 — led to rumours within the BBC and wider media that Sherlock was a potential disaster . The BBC decided not to transmit the pilot , requesting a reshoot and a total of three 90 @-@ minute episodes . The original pilot was included on the DVD of the first series . During the audio commentary , the creative team said that the BBC were " very happy " with the pilot but asked them to change the format . The pilot , observes critic Mark Lawson when it was released on DVD , was " substantially expanded and rewritten , and completely reimagined in look , pace and sound " . In July 2009 , the BBC drama department announced plans for three 90 @-@ minute episodes , to be broadcast in 2010 . Moffat had previously announced that if a series of Sherlock was commissioned , Gatiss would take over the duties of executive producer so that he could concentrate on producing Doctor Who . 
