Chris Noth starred as detective William Bishop in 18 episodes of The Equalizer (Picture: Getty)

Queen Latifah says it’s ‘surreal’ that her co-star Chris Noth has been axed from The Equalizer.

The Sex And The City actor was dropped from the CBS drama last month after two women came forward to accuse him of sexual assault, which he has vehemently denied.

Noth, 67, starred in the recurring role of detective William Bishop alongside Queen Latifah for 18 episodes.

Reacting to his departure, the actress told People: ‘It’s still surreal. It is such a dicey, delicate situation that requires a great deal of respect. That’s a personal thing that he’s going to have to deal with.’

Addressing how Noth’s character would be written out, Queen Latifah revealed: ‘We are figuring out what we want to do creatively on the show and how we’re going to deal with that character.

‘Chris’s character’s obviously a big part of the show and it was amazing chemistry, amazing chemistry, and my feeling is justice has to prevail regardless. I just want the right things to be done, you know?’

Queen Latifah says it’s ‘surreal’ continuing The Equalizer without her co-star Noth (Picture: CBS via Getty Images)

Universal Television and CBS announced Noth’s axing in a short statement, which said: ‘Chris Noth will no longer film additional episodes of The Equalizer, effective immediately.’

The Equalizer aired two series last year, one in February and the other in October.

In December, two women, who do not know each other, approached The Hollywood Reporter separately to claim Noth’s reprisal of his role in the Sex And The City spinoff, And Just Like That, had triggered painful memories.

Noth said the allegations are ‘categorically false’ (Picture: Reuters)

One woman, who is given the pseudonym Zoe, said she was 22 and working in an entry-level job for a high-profile firm where Noth and other celebrities regularly had business when he assaulted her in his apartment in Los Angeles in 2004.

Another woman, given the pseudonym Lily, was 25 and working as a waitress in the VIP section of a New York nightclub when she met Noth in 2015.

She claims he assaulted her in his New York apartment.

Noth denied the allegations in a statement, saying: ‘The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false.

‘These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago — no always means no — that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual. It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out.’

He added: ‘I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.’

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