BBC One announced this morning that actress Amanda Abbington has joined Sherlock series 3, which is currently filming its trio of episodes.

While the network stayed mum on who she’d play, they did hint that Abbington will portray someone “that significantly impacts upon the lives of John and Sherlock.”

Abbington’s credits include recent television series such as Mr Selfridge, Postcode, Case Histories, Money, Married Single Other, and After You’ve Gone.

Most notably, however, she is Martin Freeman’s longtime partner (the two are pictured together above). Freeman plays John Watson on the hit series. This connection alone will make this role particularly interesting and fun for us to watch. Would it be too predictable for this to be a love interest role? Or is she a new enemy? BBC’s description of her being someone who “significantly impacts” their lives leaves the door wide open.

We’ve assembled a few photos of the happy couple below. The couple met on the set of Men Only in 2000 and have a boy and a girl.

Yesterday we shared with you the first look at Benedict Cumberbatch back in the role of Sherlock on an outdoor set during a night shoot.

We learned on March 18 that Sherlock 3×01’s title is “The Empty Hearse.” “You are in for an absolute stonker,” Cumberbatch said of the series 3 premiere episode when asked about it recently at an awards ceremony. “It’s going to be a treat. It’s a terrific episode,” he added.

The show is expected to premiere this winter on BBC One. Presumably, Abbington will make her debut in the first episode. The cast and crew will film episodes 1 and 2 back-to-back, then take a small break so Cumberbatch and Freeman can take care of other projects before filming episode 3. The two lead stars are both on board for series 4 already.