Vicious

ITV is pushing to invest in primetime comedy again, with loads more Benidorm in the pipeline, as well as two brand-new sitcoms tonight (see also The Job Lot). And they couldn't be more different in style. Vicious is the more old-fashioned - studio audience, huge sitting-room with front door, left, and swing-door to kitchen, right (it's The Golden Girls' format) - except that, in a très moderne move, the central figures are two gay guys.

Actorly ham Freddie (Ian McKellen) and swishy Stuart (Derek Jacobi) have been cattily in love for 48 years. While activists might cavil over stereotyping, there's no denying that the spectacle of two of our finest knights of the theatre camping it up is absolutely hilarious. Along with Frances de la Tour as their voracious mate, Violet, they make every line a zinger. Creators Gary Janetti (Will & Grace, Family Guy) and Mark Ravenhill (fruity West End plays) have a sure-fire hit on their hands.

Relishing the chance to camp it up, old queen style, thespian legends Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi team up as delightfully tart couple Freddie and Stuart for this theatrical new sitcom. There's something of the retro spirit of Rising Damp about Vicious, with its waspish wit and twilit interior - the fabulous Frances de la Tour is even on hand as fag hag Violet. Tickling the trio's sensibilities is young flat-hunter Ash (Iwan Rheon) who stirs Freddie's gaydar - which clearly needs a 21st-century upgrade - and to get the party started there's a wake in honour of an old friend who, naturally, had a massive crush on the self-obsessed Freddie.

Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi have a ball as a bitching couple living in a cobwebbed, sepulchral flat, lusting after hunky new neighbour Iwan Rheon, confiding in best friend Frances De La Tour and hamming it up wherever possible. It's a very traditional studio sitcom setup, made watchable by its stars and enjoyable by a waspish script. Also, in its combination of old age and homosexuality, it could be argued to have broken a little ground. Not that creators Mark Ravenhill and Gary Janetti much care about that: this show is all about low blows and easy laughs - at which it excels.

Derek Jacobi and Ian McKellen are Stuart and Freddie, a bitchy, bitter couple holed up in their dingy London flat. In this first episode, the pair become fixated with a handsome young neighbour, as does their brazen friend Violet (Frances de la Tour). With all the very loud talking and theatrical self-pity, this could have been a superbly camp sitcom, but the characters aren't nearly outrageous or monstrous enough. That is clear from their pedestrian put-downs: "At least I'm not from Leytonstone," being Freddie's stock comeback.

Vicious sees McKellen & Jacobi become queens of comedy

While gay relationships have long been just another part of the furniture on TV, there's never been one like this.

Audio: is Vicious offensive?

The actor Christopher Biggins, and Times TV critic Andrew Billen spoke to the Today programme about Vicious.

If you want to watch a couple of knights slinging bitchy dialogue at each other, Monday nights now offer a surprising alternative to Game Of Thrones.

Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi star in this fabulous new sitcom which is, believe it or not, even better than the trailers promised.

Together for nearly half a century, Freddie and Stuart are like an old married couple, bound together by their mutual dislike. But they love each other really, of course. I think.

Every line is a belter, which is absolutely what you'd expect when you find out its creators are American Gary Janetti (writer and producer of Will & Grace[/o] and one of the [i]Family Guy writing team) and playwright Mark Ravenhill, who once said he'd be happy never to write another gay character again. I'm glad he changed his mind.

While gay relationships have long been just another part of the furniture on TV, there's never been one like Freddie and Stuart's and certainly not one so perfectly acted.

Frances de la Tour, who plays their friend - would-be maneater Violet - is something of a revelation too. It's taken 35 years but she's finally got another TV role as memorable as her Miss Jones from Rising Damp.

Young Iwan Rheon (Misfits, Games Of Thrones) is set to brighten up all their lives when he moves in to the flat upstairs.

Frances de la Tour - 'I'm going to work until I drop'

"It won't be a question of whether I will give up work, it will give me up. I'd like to just keep going, even if it's just a tiny part of an old lady in whatever it is"

Derek Jacobi - 'I'm aware of being in the last act'

"The interval was over a long time ago. It only ends one way"

Ian McKellen: We know we've got our lives behind us now

"Do I think about death? Yes, every day. People of our age, when we get together, talk about decrepitude all the time"