Why Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle secretly HATED the world-famous detective

•  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ‘secretly despised’ his character of Sherlock Holmes

He has been the world’s best loved fictional detective for almost 120 years.

But the author behind Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – secretly despised his famous creation, according to leading historian Lucy Worsley.

In a new BBC2 documentary, Ms Worsley claims Doyle only submitted his first Holmes novel in the hope he would subsequently be allowed to pursue his real ambition – writing historical fiction.

The first novel featuring the detective, A Study in Scarlet, was rejected three times before being accepted by publishers Ward Lock & Co in 1886. They said the work was exactly what they were after – ‘cheap fiction’.

But the author behind Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – secretly despised his famous creation, according to leading historian Lucy Worsley. Pictured: Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in the BBC series

Robert Downey Jr played the character in the 2009 film adaption

Ms Worsley added that Doyle ‘would have hated the fact that today, 93 years after his death, his historical novels lie unread, while his ‘cheap’ – but beloved – detective lives for ever on our screens’. Pictured: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1893

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone in 1939

Ms Worsley told The Radio Times: ‘Perhaps Arthur’s biggest secret was the fact that he’d long hated Holmes. He blamed his detective for preventing him from achieving his dream’

READ MORE – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? ‘A toxic imperialist mansplainer!’ That’s what historian Lucy Worsley thought of the complex Sherlock Holmes creator… until she delved into his tragic family history 

Holmes went on to appear in 60 original stories, making Doyle extremely rich but, according to Ms Worsley, resentful that his success distracted him from fulfilling his long-held ambition.

Ms Worsley told The Radio Times: ‘Perhaps Arthur’s biggest secret was the fact that he’d long hated Holmes. He blamed his detective for preventing him from achieving his dream.’

Ms Worsley added that Doyle ‘would have hated the fact that today, 93 years after his death, his historical novels lie unread, while his ‘cheap’ – but beloved – detective lives for ever on our screens’.

Holmes has been portrayed in films and on TV by a diverse range actors including Peter Cushing and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Lucy Worsley Investigates airs on BBC2 next Sunday

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