Official Synopsis and Start Date for Sherlock Season 2

Get ready to welcome the new year with the second season of Sherlock!  The BBC has confirmed that the first episode of Steven Moffat’s popular detective drama, A Scandal in Belgravia, will be aired January 1, 2012. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman star as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, with Lara Pulver as Irene Adler.

The official plot synopsis (below) promises international terrorism, a British government conspiracy, and a woman brilliant enough to challenge the great detective. (We can’t wait!)

Compromising photographs and a case of blackmail threaten the very heart of the British establishment, but for Sherlock and John the game is on in more ways than one as they find themselves battling international terrorism, rogue CIA agents, and a secret conspiracy involving the British government.

But this case will cast a darker shadow over their lives than they could ever imagine, as the great detective begins a long duel of wits with an antagonist as cold and ruthless and brilliant as himself: to Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler will always be THE woman.