On which date did BBC’s Sherlock episode “The Empty Hearse” first air in the UK?

BBC’s Sherlock episode “The Empty Hearse” first aired in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2014. It opened series 3 and addressed the mystery of how Sherlock Holmes survived his apparent death at the end of series 2.

The episode was written by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat and directed by Jeremy Lovering. Its broadcast followed a long wait after “The Reichenbach Fall,” creating major public interest in the explanation for Sherlock’s fall from the hospital roof.

Rather than presenting only one definitive reconstruction immediately, the episode plays with several possible explanations before revealing the central solution. This structure reflects the intense fan speculation that developed during Sherlock’s absence.

“The Empty Hearse” is sometimes confused with “His Last Vow,” the series 3 finale, or with the 2016 special “The Abominable Bride.” Its New Year’s Day broadcast made it the programme’s return episode after the series 2 cliffhanger.