Young Sherlock vs Young Sheldon? Yes, the new Prime Video show does get confused for Big Bang Theory spinoff, according to its creator — 'I can tell you a funny story about that'
So many smart boys, so little time
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Say "Young Sh-" in conversation and you'll likely instinctively talk about Young Sheldon. The Big Bang Theory prequel became one of the US' most-watched TV shows after its debut in 2017, and honestly, I'm still heartbroken that it ended after seven seasons.
Fast forward to 2026 and Young Sherlock is about to drop on Prime Video. Telling the story of Sherlock Holmes' earlier years, it's hardly a similar TV show… except the fact that we have two youthful geniuses on our hands.
I've been accidentally calling Guy Ritchie's new period piece Young Sheldon for a few weeks now. With titles so close together, I can't help it — but according to showrunner Matthew Parkhill and star Dónal Finn, I'm not the only one.
"He thought he was going to see Young Sheldon, so he left"
"I can tell you a funny story about that," Parkhill begins. "So I had a driver in Spain [Young Sherlock was partially shot there]. One day, he said, 'Can I bring nephew to set?' I said sure, and the next day, he came.
"I looked for him and found the driver instead. I said, 'Where's your nephew? I thought was coming to set?' And he said, 'Yeah, he left'. I said, 'What do you mean, he left?' He said he thought this was Young Sheldon, so didn't want to stay."
Finn adds, "A few of my siblings have said, 'Yeah, my brother's doing the TV show… it' Young Sheldon or something'".
I definitely feel better after hearing how others have got it wrong so much more badly, but it's worth stating how brilliant Young Sherlock is on its own merit.
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To quote my own review, "Understanding what made the man is at the key of the Prime Video show, turning him from an aloof intellectual prodigy into a vulnerable young man full of emotion, care, and reason."
Though it's far from a sitcom, Young Sherlock isn't short on laughs, either. Frankly, it's an unmissable binge watch this March.
By the time my interview comes to an end, I think the Young Sheldon chat is all over. "I want to look now for a new show that's got 'Young Sh-' in the title," Parkhill jokes as we parse a potential season 2 called 'Slightly Older Sherlock'.
"Young Shepherd, a season on the West Coast... could be a Christmas parlor game," he adds. "Cast me in that, I'm from farming stock," Finn jokes back.
The possibilities are truly endless… but if you did want to binge Young Sheldon instead, find out where you can stream it below.
- Stream Young Sheldon on Netflix in the US
- Stream Young Sheldon on Netflix in the UK
- Stream Young Sheldon on 9Now in Australia
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Jasmine is a Streaming Staff Writer for TechRadar, previously writing for outlets including Radio Times, Yahoo! and Stylist. She specialises in comfort TV shows and movies, ranging from Hallmark's latest tearjerker to Netflix's Virgin River. She's also the person who wrote an obituary for George Cooper Sr. during Young Sheldon Season 7 and still can't watch the funeral episode.
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