In BBC Sherlock, what profession does Sherlock call himself?

In BBC Sherlock, Sherlock calls himself a consulting detective. He describes himself as “the only one in the world,” distinguishing his work from ordinary police investigations and private detective services.

The title reflects Sherlock’s role: he is not a police officer, but Scotland Yard consults him when a case exceeds its investigators’ abilities. He examines evidence, reconstructs events and supplies deductions that guide the police, while remaining an independent civilian. John Watson’s blog and the press later help make the unusual profession widely known.

The phrase comes from Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes stories, where Holmes likewise calls himself a consulting detective. “Police inspector” is a rank, “forensic pathologist” is a medical specialist, and “private investigator” is a broader but less exact description. Sherlock may perform investigative work privately, but his distinctive professional label in the series is consulting detective.