Sherlock co-creator Steve Moffat revealed earlier this month that he and Mark Gatiss have, "for no particular reason," plotted out the next two seasons, giving hope to fans that the drama could continued beyond the previously discussed Season 4. But on Monday, during the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, he teased that the future is contingent on the rapidly growing success of star Benedict Cumberbatch.

"It will continue until Benedict gets too famous," Moffat said in what The Hollywood Reporter describes as a half-joking manner. Echoing his earlier statements, the actor later added, "I'm going to keep going with it. It's a schedule-providing thing ... I love it. I find it very invigorating."

Television executives would love that, to0, as Sunday's Season 3 premiere on PBS drew 4 million viewers, a 25 percent increase from last year. The same episode attracted 9.2 million viewers last month in the United Kingdom.

Sherlock continues Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on PBS.