Despite being set in the modern age, the BBC’s current production of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, Sherlock, has been just as fastidious on the costume front as period pieces were.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s coat is the sole piece of costume retained for the character from the original 2009 pilot episode. The Belstaff ‘Milford’ Coat is made from pure Irish wool tweed, bonded with a sophisticated, ultra-light microporous film, to make it waterproof without altering the natural qualities of comfort and breathability.
Detailed with distinctive red button holes, three Belstaff Milfords were originally purchased from the Belstaff store on Conduit Street, London: one for Benedict Cumberbatch, one for the stunt man and a spare. Since then, Belstaff has ceased production of the coat. They reintroduced it briefly in 2010, to mark Sherlock’s television debut, but not in large enough numbers for the coat to enter circulation. There are no further plans to reintroduce the coat.