The BBC recently launched an updated version of the Sherlock Holmes stories–Sherlock features a text messaging detective named Holmes and a blogging  doctor named Watson. In the U.S., Sherlock will air on PBS’ Masterpiece for three consecutive Sundays beginning October 24th.  From October 25 until December 7, 2010 you can watch episodes for free at the Masterpiece website–each episode will be available the day after broadcast.

The trailer for the updated series is embedded above. What do you think? Actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement) plays Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s famous detective and Martin Freeman (The Office UK) plays his sidekick, Doctor John Watson.

Here’s more about the show from io9: “The writing is so good and acting so convincing that it immediately makes sense that the war-haunted, gruff-and-ready Watson would write a blog at the advice of his therapist, that the technology-forward, cryptic Holmes would take to texting — he ‘prefers’ it — and run a website.”

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated for clarity.