Sherlock Holmes' sexuality on BBC's Sherlock has been an oft-discussed topic on the Internet, and star Benedict Cumberbatch is clearing the air on what exactly his character is, sexually.

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Cumberbatch's Sherlock has some homoerotic tendencies in his relationship with Watson (Martin Freeman), and he has shown a lack of willingness to enter female relationships, but the actor recently noted that he isn't gay. In fact, he doesn't find much use for sex at all.

"He doesn't want any, and it's very purposeful on his part," Cumberbatch told Vulture in a new interview. "I think he's been burnt in the past. I think he also realizes he can't beat female intuition; he can't. So to embroil himself where he might be enslaved through adoration or sexual desire or any kind of power or chemistry to do with love is too big a risk for him. That doesn't make him gay, and it doesn't make him asexual. It means he's purposely abstaining for the sake of his craft."

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There have been undertones of Sherlock and Watson being a couple since the very first episode of Sherlock, which has essentially turned into a running joke with several people mistaking them for one.

It remains to be seen if Sherlock will eventually get into a relationship with anybody, but many fans are just fine with him solving crimes with Watson.

Sherlock is slated to return for a one-off holiday special at the end of 2015. It will then return for the three-episode fourth season in early 2016.

Tags: Sherlock television BBC PBS