'Sherlock' season 4 spoilers: First two episode titles revealed

Fans of BBC's "Sherlock" have long since prayed and waited for any concrete news about the fourth season of the show. After years of waiting for Benedict Cumberbatch to return as the titular character and Martin Freeman as Doctor Watson, fans don't have to wait too long. BBC recently shared the titles of the first two episodes of "Sherlock" season 4.

The first episode is titled "The Six Thatchers." The premiere episode was directed by Rachel Talalay. Mark Gatiss, who portrays Sherlock's brother Mycroft Holmes, spearheaded the writing direction for the episode. Meanwhile, the succeeding episode will have the title "The Lying Detective." Nick Hurran directed the episode, and Steven Moffat wrote it.

The first two episode titles are a play on words from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Return of Sherlock." The premiere episode's title was based on "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons," while the second episode title was a play on "The Dying Detective."

"There are things that come to fruition in this series which we've been planning for years," Gatiss told audiences at a Victoria & Albert Museum members' talk, as quoted by Radio Times.

"But people also find things that aren't there. Which is my favourite. And then miss the blindingly obvious things that are there. People read an awful lot into it," he revealed.

The actor/co-creator admitted that he has read some fan theories in the past. He mentioned one that was based on Grimm's fairy tales. However, he said that it's not going to happen in the show.

"Sometimes I'm made aware of these things and I think the level of invention is amazing, but it's amazing that you think it's going to turn out to be that – because it really isn't," he concluded.

"Sherlock" season 4 is expected to be the darkest season yet. The forthcoming season is slated to premiere in early 2017.