Sherlock: 10 Most Outrageous Fan Theories

6. The Explanation Of Sherlock's Death Isn't Real

After all the speculation over Sherlock's fake death, the series had fun with people's huge interest in the answer by teasing us with two comic versions - Derren Brown hypnotizing John, and Sherlock and Moriarty eloping - before giving us the real answer. Or did they?

Some fans believe that the final explanation is no more real than the first two and is in fact from John's imagination. This would explain why the more obvious clues are picked up on - no offence, John! - such as the rubber ball and Sherlock's double.

Naturally, John - who still admires his best friend but is angry at being abandoned - imagined a scenario where Sherlock was in complete control of all eventualities without a thought as to the friends he would hurt by faking his death. Which we know isn't strictly true, as Sherlock seems to genuinely fear for their lives when Moriarty threatens John, Lestrade and Mrs Hudson in The Reichenbach Fall.

This theory might well be on to something - or it might be fans just not liking the explanation we were given.