Martin Freeman's romance is 'delightful' in new Sherlock, says Benedict Cumberbatch

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch told his on-screen accomplice Martin Freeman he is "delightful" with new his love interest in the show's third series.

Freeman, who plays Sherlock's tolerant sidekick John Watson, finds himself involved with his real-life partner Amanda Abbington after his friend's apparent death at the end of series two.

Abbington plays the "sensible, quick-witted" Mary Morstan in the show - and her relationship with Dr Watson has already earned a fan.

"You were delightful with her. Very lovely, really lovely," Cumberbatch told Freeman during a question and answer session this weekend.

But Freeman was quick to clarify that he was not the decisive influence in securing a role for Abbington.

He said: "It wasn't a John and Yoko thing where I said ‘I wan't my missus in this.'"

He added that the show's creators and producers had asked: "'‘Who would be a good Mary?’

"And Amanda is a really good Mary. If she was nothing to do with me she's someone who would definitely have gone up for it – she's there or thereabouts in that casting.

"Mark had worked with her before, Sue had worked with her before, we all just got on and we knew that chemistry would work."

The first episode of series three of Sherlock will air on BBC1 at 9pm on New Year's Day.