‘Sherlock’ Season 4 Spoilers: Benedict Cumberbatch’s Character Won’t Have A Love Interest; Lack Of Romance Explained

Sherlock Holmes is in for another loveless year in “Sherlock” Season 4, but it seems he might prefer it that way. Executive producer Steven Moffat recently explained that the detective’s love life is non-existent because he is not interested in women -- but that doesn’t mean he is gay. While some fans would like Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) to get together with Watson (Martin Freeman), Moffat has revealed that a romance between the two characters will never happen.

“We walk into that one all the time,” Moffat told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s a funny thing when a character for over 100 years has been saying, ‘I don’t do that at all.’ He’s been saying it over 100 years! He’s not interested in [sex]. He’s willfully staying away from that to keep his brain pure—a Victorian belief, that. But everyone wants to believe he’s gay. He’s not gay. He’s not straight. And Doctor Watson is very clear that he prefers women. People want to fantasize about it. It’s fine. But it’s not in the show.”

Speculation has always surrounded Sherlock’s sexuality on the show, mostly because the internet is willing to speculate about any fictional character’s sexuality. However, the theories that were mostly hidden in dark corners on Tumblr were suddenly in the limelight last year when actor Benedict Cumberbatch said something that may have been misconstrued.

During an interview with the Nerdist podcast in 2014, Cumberbatch compared Sherlock to the Doctor on “Doctor Who.” “They’ve got different dress senses, different taste in the sex of their partners…” Cumberbatch said (you can hear the conversation start around the 36 minute mark).

He was likely referring to their work partners. The Doctor’s companion is typically female (though a couple of men have managed to stay on the TARDIS). Contrastingly, Sherlock Holmes works with one man, Watson, as his professional partner. Cumberbatch has previously backed Moffat’s statement that Sherlock is neither gay nor straight and clarified that his character is not interested in a romantic relationship with anyone.

“He’s asexual. He doesn't want any, and it's very purposeful on his part,” Cumberbatch told Vulture in December. “I think he's been burnt in the past. I think he also realizes he can't beat female intuition; he can't. So to embroil himself where he might be enslaved through adoration or sexual desire or any kind of power or chemistry to do with love is too big a risk for him. That doesn't make him gay, and it doesn't make him asexual. It means he's purposely abstaining for the sake of his craft.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Moffat has dashed fan’s hopes this week. He also said a “Sherlock” crossover with “Doctor Who” won’t happen. It seems like those who are looking for Sherlock to have romantic and/or intergalactic storylines will just have to stick to fan fiction.

PBS has yet to announce a return date for “Sherlock” Season 4. Are you disappointed that Sherlock isn’t getting any love? Sound off in the comments section below!