In BBC’s Sherlock, what is Sherlock Holmes’s brother called?

Sherlock Holmes’s brother in BBC’s Sherlock is called Mycroft Holmes.

Mycroft is adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle’s character of the same name. In the television series, he is portrayed as highly intelligent, politically connected and often involved with British government affairs. Sherlock describes Mycroft as even more intelligent than himself, although Mycroft lacks Sherlock’s interest in fieldwork and physical investigation.

Mark Gatiss plays Mycroft Holmes. Gatiss also co-created Sherlock with Steven Moffat, making the character especially significant to the programme’s production as well as its story. Mycroft’s relationship with Sherlock is competitive but also protective.

Viewers sometimes confuse Mycroft with Moriarty because both are intellectually formidable figures connected to Sherlock’s cases. They have different roles: Mycroft is Sherlock’s brother, while James Moriarty is his principal criminal adversary.