Vicious
- TV sitcom
- ITV1
- 2013 - 2016
- 14 episodes (2 series)
ITV sitcom with Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ian McKellen as an elderly gay couple living in Covent Garden. Also stars Frances de la Tour. Also features Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Iwan Rheon, Marcia Warren and Philip Voss
Episode menu
Finale - A Year
Further details
This extended hour long special welcomes viewers back for one final time into the hectic world of newly married couple Freddie Thornhill and Stuart Bixby and their best friend Violet. Also returning for the final hurrah are Ash, Penelope and Mason.
In spring, Freddie and Stuart attempt to hide their inheritance, Violet has financial troubles after her recent divorce and Ash struggles to pay his rent. Signs of Freddie and Stuart's expenditure soon threatens the pretence as their home becomes overrun with guests. In summer, it is Freddie's birthday party and an unexpected card arrives. Stuart prepares a very special present, Violet has a surprising announcement, and Ash and Penelope share a secret. In autumn, Ash arrives at Freddie and Stuart's flat with news, while in winter the gang gather round at Christmas to experience Freddie's latest acting job.
The guest stars in the special are Frances Barber and Dame Eileen Atkins.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Friday 16th December 2016
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- ITV1
- Length
- 60 minutes
- Recorded
-
- Wednesday 23rd December 2015 at The London Studios
Cast & crew
| Derek Jacobi | Stuart |
| Ian McKellen | Freddie |
| Frances de la Tour | Violet |
| Iwan Rheon | Ash |
| Marcia Warren | Penelope |
| Philip Voss | Mason |
| Alistair Brammer | Oliver |
| Richard Gadd | Delivery Man |
| Eileen Atkins | Self (Voice) |
| Frances Barber | Carlotta (Voice) |
| Gary Janetti | Writer |
| Ben Kellett | Director |
| Gary Reich | Producer |
| Gary Janetti | Executive Producer |
| Mark Ravenhill | Consulting Producer |
| Martin Joyce | Co-producer |
| Robin Parsons | Editor |
| Harry Banks | Production Designer |
| June Nevin | Costume Designer |
| Nicola Coleman | Make-up Designer |
| Martin Hawkins | Lighting Designer |
| Murray Gold | Composer |
Press
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.
Euan Ferguson, The Guardian, 18th December 2016Returning 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.
Jonathan Wright, The Guardian, 16th December 2016Preview - 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.
Ian Wolf, On The Box, 16th December 2016