Sherlock: 10 Best Minor Characters

If you want the definition of the phrase "there's no such thing as a small role", then look no further than Kitty Riley.

This character had less screen time than all the other characters on this list, yet made a considerable impression thanks to her strong dialogue, wonderful performance - given by Katherine Parkinson - and placement as a pawn in Moriarty's game with Sherlock.

She first came along by pretending to be a Sherlock superfan and confronting him in the bathroom, only to have it revealed that she was an investigative journalist looking for her first big scoop. She had decided that Sherlock was her ticket to stardom but was promptly sent away after he uttered the words "You repel me".

This drove her right into the arms of Jim Moriarty, who instantly tricked her into believing he was just an actor and got her involved in his ploy to ruin Sherlock's reputation.

While she didn't do much outside of this, she acted as a great example of how Sherlock's abrasive personality - however justified - could cause him significant issues. Although those words meant nothing to him at the time, they drove a valuable ally right into the hands of his arch-nemesis.