New to the show....

Well, let's see. Since 2010, Steven Moffatt has written more than 30 episodes of Doctor Who, and also served as producer of both that show and Sherlock.

His co-writer, Mark Gatiss has written several episodes of Doctor Who, plus a number of articles, books, TV movies, and documentaries; has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows, including (but not limited to) Wolf Hall, London Spy, Absolutely Fabulous, and Dad's Army. In addition, he has appeared in several stage productions including Coriolanus for which he won an Olivier Award.

Benedict Cumberbatch has appeared in countless films, TV programmes, radio and stage productions. So extensive is his list of credits, he has a 2nd entry on Wikipedia, just to cover his work. The high points of the past five years includes, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Hobbit (in which he played 2 roles), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse, 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County, Doctor Strange, and The Imitation Game which earned him an Academy Award nomination. In TV, he appeared in The Simpsons, Parade's End and The Hollow Crown. He's completed a number of radio plays and series, including cult favourite Cabin Pressure, and has appeared on stage in a hugely successful 3-month run in Hamlet in London's West End.

Martin Freeman has appeared in all three parts of The Hobbit, The World's End, Captain America: Civil War, in addition to about a dozen other films. He's also appeared in a number of TV shows, including Fargo, The Eichmann Show, Toast and many others. Plus he played Richard III on stage in the Shakepeare play.

That's not including the many roles played by Loo Brealey, Rupert Graves, Una Stubbs, and Andrew Scott. With all of that, I'd say we're lucky we got any Sherlock at all.

https://rycardus.wordpress.com/2016/11/02/sherlock-and-the-sorcerer/