Fans of the world’s most popular detective took to the streets of London on Tuesday for the world premiere of the latest cinematic take on the pipe-smoking sleuth.

British director Guy Ritchie presented his version of the Victoriandetective at a red-carpet ceremony attended by the film’s stars Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, as well as many other top-notch celebrities.

Ritchie will be hoping that his latest film will find favour with the viewing public following the failure of recent ‘turkeys’ such as Rocknrolla or Swept Away, which featured a much-derided performance from ex-wife Madonna.

A waxwork figure of Robert Downey Jr as Holmes has been made

The new film sees the character of Sherlock Holmes re-imagined as abullet-dodging action hero rather than the more cerebral protagonist of the short stories and novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Indeed some critics have suggested that the ‘Hollywood-isation’ of Holmes extends even to the film’s storyline.

Holmes’ cases usually focus on particular crimes, such as murder orblackmail, committed by individuals; however, Ritchie’s Holmes must face a supernatural enemy who plans to return from the dead, infiltrate parliament, and take over the world.

The Hound of the Baskervilles must seem like a harmless pooch after that.

The American actor who plays Sherlock Holmes has done a remarkable job in adopting a refined English accent for the role and has spoken of his experience of handling the complexities of Holmes’ character.

"He [Holmes] is tortured by anything that is mundane," said Downey Jr.

"Then again Holmes says there is nothing more stimulating than a case where nothing goes your way, so he’s a bit of a weirdo," Downey Jr added.

So if you are a fan of the greatest fictional detective, you can track him down to a cinema soon.