Sherlock Holmes under the hammer as BBC face lawsuit from American heiress. [View all]

[dipsydoodle]

The corkscrew plot of literary litigation and counter-claim could land the BBC with legal action just as it celebrates the success of its third Sherlock series.

The drama, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, drew 8.8million viewers for its New Year's Day episode and another bumper audience is expected for tonight's series finale.

But its real-life machinations are as deep and dark as any devised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who invented the flawed polymath in 1887.

The battle for his literary legacy has a dramatic sweep that may have beguiled the Edinburgh author.

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One claimant to the fortune, Andrea Plunket, says: "I have the rights, that is clear. And I will be suing the BBC for Sherlock. They are not allowed to take a character and create a new story. The same goes for Elementary, the CBS TV adaption starring Jonny Lee Miller. I also have trademarks on the Holmes and Watson characters in Europe."

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/453427/Sherlock-Holmes-under-the-hammer-as-BBC-face-lawsuit-from-American-heiress

Meanwhile :

Sherlock could be back in time for Christmas as BBC bosses urge producers to fast-track new episodes.

The producers of hit BBC drama Sherlock are under pressure to fast-track new episodes in order to get the programme back on television in time for next Christmas.

Following the success of the New Year's Day episode of Sherlock, which attracted over 13 million viewers when catch-up services are factored in, the BBC is understood to be eager to bill the programme as the main event in its Christmas 2014 schedule.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2538467/Sherlock-time-Christmas-BBC-bosses-urge-producers-fast-track-new-episodes.html#ixzz2qI3eBZGv