American actress Lucy Liu, famous for her role in "Charlie's Angels" has been chosen to play the role of Sherlock Holmes' famous sidekick, Dr Joan Watson, in a rather bizarre casting decision.

The new show, to air on the CBC network in the US, has been called "Elementary" and will feature Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes.

The decision has, predictably, upset the BBC and other producers of the show's British counterpart, as well as fans worldwide.

This is the first time the role will be played by a woman and the previously macho relationship built up between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, in the two film versions of Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic literary legacy, will have to be re-examined.

Meanwhile, apart from Law, other famous actors to have played the role of Dr Watson include Sir Ben Kingsley and Dudley Moore.