BBC One has shared the first photo from Sherlock series 3, episode 1 in which we see our beloved leads!

The Sherlock series 3 premiere episode still was released at the stroke of midnight on the channel’s official Twitter account. Check it out:

Click the image to view it full size!

In the still we see Watson (Martin Freeman) sitting in a cafe while Sherlock looks in from outside. Did Sherlock tell him in this scene how he survived? Watson looks like he’s in a bad mood, so our guess is that he hasn’t told him yet or he just learned the news.

Said Steven Moffat in a statement attached to today’s new photo, “It’s been a long time since Sherlock Holmes jumped off that roof – it’s time to reveal the truth about what happened between him and the pavement.”

Added executive producer, writer and co-creator Mark Gatiss, “Sherlock and John Watson are back at last! And they’re just where we want them – on the streets of London having mad, thrilling adventures.”

We’re surprised that BBC One didn’t use this opportunity to unveil the air date. You would think that an announcement at the stroke of midnight would’ve been reserved for big news like when the new episodes premiere. Perhaps this still means that a reveal is imminent?

PBS announced two weeks ago that Sherlock series 3 will premiere in the United States on January 19, but an air date hasn’t been set for the U.K. The first promotional still of Sherlock and Watson standing outside 221B in series 3 can be seen in our October report.

Sherlock series 3, episode 1 is titled “The Empty Hearse,” episode 2 is “The Sign of Three” and episode 3 is “His Last Vow.”

See a BBC drama trailer that includes footage from Sherlock series 3 in our September report.

Steven Moffat and the show’s producers brought footage from series 3 to San Diego Comic-Con in July, and fans were treated to a scene from episode 2. Hypable was present at the event and felt that series 3 will really stand out on its own thanks to the humor and simply the way it looks cinematically.

It will be interesting to see if BBC One airs Sherlock series 3 simultaneously with its U.S. airing, or if it’ll premiere in the U.K. earlier (like later this month or December).

We will bring you the air date announcement as soon as it’s made. Stay tuned!