Derek Jacobi

Last Christmas the Mischief Threatre Comnpany they staged a delightfully silly version of Peter Pan, but this year's attempt, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC1), was dragged under by the weight of its own jokes.

The set-up, which had the pranksters kidnapping Sir Derek Jacobi during a 'live TV production' of Scrooge, was far too convoluted. So was the dialogue, which included great slabs lifted from Dickens.

The running gags didn't so much run as limp. There was very little to take the audience by surprise: most of the jokes announced themselves in advance by telegram.

With Dame Diana Rigg narrating, it was a starry affair, and the cast never lacked energy. They flung themselves at every pratfall.

But there was no need to make it so complicated. Sometimes, a custard pie is just a custard pie.

Inside No. 9 - The Devil Of Christmas review

Like with all of Inside No. 9 however, the real twist in the tale comes at the very end. Of course it would be bad of me to spoil it, which just goes to show what incredible writing talent Shearsmith and Pemberton have. The horror and dark twists certainly come as a surprise, while the commentary provides the humour. It is worth watching a few times because you can easily miss some gags.

Inside No. 9: The Devil Of Christmas review

The Inside No. 9 Christmas special is an expertly layered treat for fans of vintage horror.

This seasonal two-parter takes place two years after Kate's death, with Sarah Lancashire's Caroline taking up a job at an underperforming school in Huddersfield, much to the chagrin of her family. Meanwhile, a nasty accident involving Robbie triggers haunting memories for Gillian, and ever-exasperating Celia (Anne Reid) ropes Alan into amateur dramatics, prompting a memorable protest from Derek Jacobi of "I can't act!"

Derek Jacobi & Anne Reid share their Xmas memories

The actors, also known as Alan and Celia, reveal what makes Christmas special for them.

The grand bow-out of ITV's Vicious arrived in a "special" that wasn't at all. Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen and Frances de la Tour are all close to beatification in the British acting world and it says much about their talent that they have almost made this slipshod monotonal excretion watchable.

Almost. That's a qualification up there with saying McKellen might be "almost pregnant". Such a shame for him, for them all. Two elderly gays in a flat, camping it up with exaggerated moues and eyebrow-raising, and so very 1970s, but it might have worked with decent writing, or an any-way decent script. This one has apparently been written throughout by low-functioning and homophobic bacteria. They do try, the dear boys, but they're merely putting greasepaint on a pig.

Returning for one last hurrah, Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi reprise their roles as sniping septuagenarians Freddie and Stuart in a special that traces a year in the couple's lives. Sadly, while there are plenty of gags in the Great British Joke Book that bear revisiting,Vicious yet again too often ignores these in favour of gratuitous swearing and one-liners that should have been left in the 1970s. Alternatively, postmodern campery of the very highest order.

Preview - Vicious: A Year

ITV doesn't produce many sitcoms, but when they do they tend to pull in the viewers. Most TV critics may not be fans of Vicious, Benidorm or the revived Birds of a Feather, but the public like them.

Vicious review

ITV's Vicious came to an end but not even Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi could send it off on a high.