Since the dramatic finale to the second series of the BBC’s SHERLOCK, fans have been asking themselves two main questions. The first, yet to be resolved – how did he survive that? The second – who will replace Andrew Scott’s brilliant Moriarty as the lead villain? Step forward Lars Mikkelson as Charles Augustus Magnusson.

Producer Sue Vertue unveiled the portrait of series three’s new villain on her Twitter account today. Danish actor Mikkelson, brother of HANNIBAL star Mads, will be facing Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holmes in at least one of the three new episodes – THE EMPTY HEARSE, THE SIGN OF THREE, and HIS LAST VOW – when the sleuth returns late this year.

So, who is Mr. Magnusson? The name will be familiar to readers of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Holmes canon, in particular the 1904 short story THE ADVENTURE OF CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON. Conan Doyle’s Milverton is described as the “king of all blackmailers” and is a repulsive criminal who makes his living by exploiting the secrets of the wealthy.

Writers Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, and Steve Thompson will no doubt have found this character an interesting place in twenty-first century culture – selling celebrity gossip to the tabloids, perhaps.

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