Sherlock’s back, and he’s hanging with ‘Downton Abbey’

Our long and desperate wait is over -- “Sherlock” will finally be back in action on PBS starting Jan. 19, sharing Sunday night with “Downton Abbey,” which premieres Jan. 5.

Steven Moffat’s and Mark Gatiss’ highly acclaimed and thoroughly addictive modern-day reimagining of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective seemed to be on perpetual hiatus as Moffat coped with the 50-year anniversary of “Doctor Who” and the film careers of stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Martin Freeman (Watson) went nuclear.

Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins in the three-part film made from “The Hobbit,” and Cumberbatch has been in just about everything, most recently “The Fifth Estate.”

PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments

Pairing “Sherlock” with “Downton Abbey” will make PBS a real competitor on Sundays, which has become a very hot night for prestige dramas, including, currently, “The Good Wife,” “Homeland” and “The Walking Dead.”

But the time gap makes any crossover episode all but impossible -- unless Moffat can borrow the TARDIS from “Doctor Who.”

The Doctor and Sherlock on “Downton.” You heard it here first.

ALSO:

Fox moves premiere date of ‘Almost Human’

‘American Horror Story’s’ Jessica Lange at ease in shadows

Cee Lo Green charged with giving woman ecstasy, pleads not guilty

[email protected]