Steven Moffat thinks 'Sherlock' "would be over by now" if he made more episodes.
The show's executive producer has hit back at a recent BBC Trust report, which argued it would be of great benefit to BBC One to air 12 episodes of the hit detective drama, insisting the show's leading men Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman would have quit if it was any longer than three episodes per series.
Speaking at the European premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy' in London's Leicester Square last night (24.07.14), Steven exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "BBC should be more innovative and make more of 'Sherlock'? Do they know what innovative means is my question?!
"It would never happen now. It could have happened at the beginning but had it happened, the show would be over by now because the boys wouldn't be doing it. That will never happen.
"I'm quite surprised we're announcing four [episodes for 2015] because it's normally three - and that's a huge step up for us!"
Martin - who plays Dr. John Watson - recently earned two Emmy Award nominations in the US and Steven admits he worries he may lose his two stars, both of whom have built up impressive film careers, to Hollywood.
However, the talented writer believes Martin and Benedict both love making 'Sherlock' as it's a nice break from their busy TV and film commitments in America.
He explained: "I think we might lose all of them to the US! In a way we have. If we were doing long runs of 'Sherlock', we'd have them lost them already.
"It's the fact they love it so much that they want to come back. Because it's an occasional treat, every two years you get back together and make a few of them - that can go on a bit.
"We're very proud and one day I suppose that pride will stop us making it because we don't ever want to make a bad one.
"We're all very excited by it and we all know whatever other successes we have or are having, we'll never have an experience like that."

'Thunderbirds Are Go!' producers have unveiled the first look at the new Tracy Island.
ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures, who are rebooting the classic children's show for a new generation, have shared a glimpse at the iconic location in conjunction with a panel celebrating the franchise at San Diego Comic Con.
The picture shows the isolated, high-tech Tracy Island - which memorably boasted its own retractable swimming pool and tilting palm trees - surrounded by serene seawater.
Executive producer Giles Ridge said: "It's great to have the chance to give fans a sneak peak at the home of Thunderbirds. Tracy Island was a much loved feature of the original show, so it felt right that we showcase our new-look location with the show's followers."
'Thunderbirds Are Go!' will begin airing in 2015, exactly 50 years after the original series.
Hollywood actress Rosamund Pike will voice Lady Penelope in the new show, while original 'Thunderbirds' voice actor David Graham will reprise his role as her chauffeur Aloysius Parker.
The cast also includes Kayvan Novak, Thomas Brodie Sangster and Rasmus Hardiker.
Unlike the original show, which used puppets, 'Thunderbirds Are Go!' will be a mix of live action and CGI. Producers have enlisted Weta Workshop, the special effects company behind the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Hobbit' movies, to bring the iconic characters to life.
The show will air on ITV and CITV next year.

Dolly Parton always "dreamed" of opening a theme park.
The '9 to 5' hitmaker admits her Tennessee tourist attraction Dollywood was something she wanted to establish very early in her career as she thought it would be a "wonderful" thing for local residents.
Asked what made her want to open a theme park, she said: "Actually, I had thought about that early on. The park will be celebrating our 30th anniversary this year and we're opening our resort, but it was a dream of mine, even early on.
"I thought, if I do become as successful as I hope then I would love to go back home and create something in that area, which is really one of the biggest tourist areas in the United States - the Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in America. A lot of people don't realise that. I just thought it would be a wonderful thing for the local folks, and for my family."
The 68-year-old singer has achieved a lot in her career, but still has a number of goals and ambitions.
She explained to The Guardian newspaper: "I still have all my music to do. I'm working on my life story as a musical, and I also would like to see my life story on film, so I've been working on that.
"I'd like my own cosmetic company, to do with the makeup and the clothes and the jewellery, that sort of thing.
"So I wake up with new dreams every day, and I hope to live long enough to see a lot of those dreams come true."

Cher Lloyd found it difficult to tell her parents she is buying a home in America.
The 20-year-old singer - who is married to hairdresser Craig Monk - is planning to settle down in the US but admitted it was difficult telling her parents that she is not coming home.
Speaking to Darryl Morris on The Hits Radio, she said: "It's kind of weird to not really have anywhere to call home, but that's about to change because I am going to go and buy a house. Yeah and I'm very excited about it. Probably [in] America!
"It's been really difficult to sort of get my head around everything but the thing for me is it's gone so well in America. I'm just not willing to give up that opportunity. I'm just going to go for it and it's been really difficult telling my mum and my dad.
"I'll have to come back, I've got to see my nan, my granddad. I do Skype but it's not the same with my Mum - I know she's having a cup of tea and a cigarette and I'm not really joining her."
While Cher was quite the pop brat during her rise to fame on 'The X Factor' four years ago and is now embarrassed by her antics, she insists she wouldn't have changed a thing as it has made her who she is today.
She explained: "I wouldn't say regret; I would say I've learnt. You know, there is a few things that I'm slightly embarrassed about, but what 20-year-old girl wouldn't look back on a 16-year-old self and be like, 'No, she was absolutely fine. She was great.'
"No, we're all embarrassed, young girls get embarrassed about what they've done in the past. I can't watch the 'X Factor' back; it does make me cringe slightly, but I almost was in such a state that I didn't want to do it because I was really sick.
"And it's one of those moments that you look back on and you think, "I'm not happy with the way that it went necessarily but I'm happy with the outcome. So you can sort of accept it.'"

Michael Jackson's estate has filed a lawsuit over photographs of the late star. The estate are suing a movie memorabilia store for auctioning off historic photos of the 'Thriller' singer - who died of acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009 - taken d...

J.B. Gill won't allow his baby to date his JLS bandmates' children.
The 27-year-old singer - who is expecting his first child with his wife Chloe Tangney - admits he isn't keen on his offspring dating former colleague Marvin Humes' 14-month-old daughter Alaia-Mai or Oritse Williams' impending bundle of joy because the 'Beat Again' group are "like family".
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the European premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy' in London's Leicester Square last night (24.07.14), he said: "I'm sure we'll have play dates at some point.
"I don't know about [dating], it's like family! I don't know if cousins should be going out with each other."
J.B. has confirmed Chloe is "due soon" but the couple have opted not to find out the sex of their baby and have decorated their nursery with neutral-coloured accessories and wallpaper.
He explained: "We don't know the gender yet. I think girl, Chloe thinks boy, and it's probably about 70/30 [per cent] in favour of boy from our friends and family.
"We've kept everything neutral. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the pink or the blue. Even if I knew we were having a boy, I'd like it to be quite neutral. I don't having blue stuff but I'd rather not be so strict."
The singer's former bandmate Marvin, who is married to The Saturdays star Rochelle Humes, has helped him prepare for fatherhood by gifting him a book on pregnancy.
J.B. added: "He's actually given me a book called 'Pregnancy for Men', which is a really good book. It documents everything, it goes through it for men as men don't physically experience birth, so it's difficult to grasp what goes into it."

Chris Pratt looked handsome in a navy checkered suit as he arrived at the premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy' at the Empire cinema in London's Leicester Square.

Katy Perry wore a crystal-embellished pink leopard-print catsuit and cat-ears as she took to the stage in New York City for her Prismatic World Tour.

Hilary Duff showed off her toned legs in a pair of shorts, which she paired with a green khaki top, for a night out at the Marquee club in New York City, where she performed earlier in the night.

Taylor Swift showed off her enviable figure in a matching grey and white crop top and skirt as she enjoyed a stroll in New York's Central Park.

Megan Fox looked stunning as she attended the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Press Line at The San Diego Comic Con in California wearing a black shirt and skirt.

Karen Gillan took to the blue carpet in Leicester Square, London for the premiere of her new film 'Guardians of the Galaxy' wearing an unusual skirt and cropped jumper.