Sherlock nakedness before the watershed 'stuns watchers'

The pre-dividing line appearance of an undressed dominatrix in the BBC policewoman drama Sherlock has been condemned by viewing families.

In the BBC's version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes anonymity A Scandal in Bohemia, actress Laura Pulver come out wearing only diamond Earings, lipstick and heels 25 minutes before the 9pm cut-off point.

The dominatrix suspended suggestively on a chair before stroking Holmes' face with a riding crop. She later tampered with the detective's phone so text messages would be pronounced with a indicative moan.

Pulver, playing the detective's idealistic interest Irene Alder, had prior shown wearing a thong and carrying a whip as she walked into a room having a woman tied to a bed.

Approximately ten million people looked at the New Year's Day episode of Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

Some watchers criticizing the racy scenes had been telecasted too early in the evening.

One wrote on Twitter: "Dominatrix?! Watershed anyone? My ten year-old was watching that."

 Another said: "I don't imagine the storyline in Sherlock is pre-watershed fitting" whilst a third wrote: "How was Sherlock on pre-watershed with that s--- walking round with no clothes on for most of it?"

A BBC spokesman said: "We're pleased with the critical and viewers reply to the first episode, which has been tremendously optimistic, and have received no complaints at this level."

Steven Moffat, the series co-creator, said he had given Holmes a vulgar hurly-burly partner to disperse rumors of a gay hint between the detective and his assistant, Dr Watson.