Okay, two big news stories in relation to BBC/Masterpiece Mystery’s runaway hit “Sherlock.”

Firstly, the character who has been the most anticipated this season, Irene Adler, has been cast. According to Den of Geek!, Lara Pulver has been cast as Adler. Pulver, an English actress, has played in shows like “True Blood” and “Robin Hood”.

“Sherlock” co-writer and co-creator Steven Moffat hasn’t revealed what role Adler will play in relation to Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), but in the story she is featured in, “A Scandal in Bohemia” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Adler is an American singer/actress who was once in a romantic affair with the King of Bohemia, but broke up with him and became engaged to a rich Englishman. Adler is the only woman who has outsmarted Holmes, and because of this, she holds a particular interest to the detective. In the story, it’s not a romantic thing, but after her appearance, she has become a romantic interest to Holmes in various interpretations of the Holmes canon.

Secondly, also according to Den of Geek!, “Sherlock”‘s Season Two premiere has been set to early 2012. According to the site, the BBC has never said they were going to premiere the season in 2011, contrary to other reports on the internet. But just the fact that fans–me included–are going to have to wait is such a hard pill to swallow. The news was confirmed on the BBC One’s repeat of “The Great Game,” the third episode of Season One.

The three episodes, which are in their final stages of filming, had their filming dates reworked in order to accommodate Martin Freeman’s (John Watson) filming schedule for “The Hobbit.” Because of this, the episodes will not be viewed until 2012.

So, what do you think TV Sherlockians? What do you make of Pulver as Adler? (For me, she fits the bill.) And how will you cope with waiting a few extra months for the second season premiere of “Sherlock”? Will you supplant your thirst for more mysteries by reading fanfiction, crappy or otherwise? Sound off below.