Dramatic actor Ian McKellen may be best known for his movie and stage roles, but many are unaware of his hilarious and underrated sitcom, Vicious. Ian McKellen’s best movies allowed the actor to make a name for himself in mainstream media, but television is a medium he doesn’t tend to work in too often. While McKellen isn’t renowned for starring in any of the best British sitcoms of all time, like Only Fools and Horses or Fawlty Towers, he absolutely nails his performance in Vicious.
Vicious is a UK sitcom that US viewers absolutely need to watch. After being added to Netflix in the UK years after its end, Vicious is now making the rounds on social media platforms like TikTok, and audiences are astounded that they’ve never heard of this brilliant sitcom, which sees performances from multiple iconic British actors. Vicious is a stellar and unappreciated British sitcom, and finally, it’s available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in the United States.
Ian McKellen & Derek Jacobi Play Long-Suffering Couple Freddie & Stewart In Vicious
These Two Theater Legends Are Fantastic In This British Sitcom
Vicious is an underrated British sitcom for a lot of reasons, but especially because of Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi’s performances. The two titans of the industry star opposite one another as Stuart and Freddie, a forever-bickering couple living in Covent Garden, who have been together since what feels like the dawn of time. McKellen’s Freddie is an arrogant, failing actor who holds on to whatever little audience attention he can get his hands on, with a rather vocal dislike of his mother-in-law, Mildred (Hazel Douglas).
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Derek Jacobi, who in recent years is best known for his Professor Yana incarnation of the Master in Doctor Who, does a great job as Stuart, a shrill and emotional man who still hasn’t told his mother he’s gay. Stuart loves to argue with Freddie and mocks him for clinging to what he believes is fame.
Hilariously, Freddie often references his brief stint as a background character in Doctor Who, something Stuart is tired of hearing about. While the pair clash regularly, the one thing they always come together for is their seemingly immortal, decrepit dog, Balthazar, whom they’re constantly trying to keep alive.
Vicious’ Cast Features Many Massive British Names
McKellen & Jacobi Aren’t The Only Big Stars In Vicious
While Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi are the names that audiences notice in regard to Vicious, there are several other brilliant British actors in the sitcom, too. For example, Misfits and Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon portrays Stuart and Freddie’s much younger neighbor, Ash. The couple is obsessed with Ash, and they fawn over his conventional good looks, but they ultimately serve as fatherly figures to the young man, too.
| Other Notable British Actors In Vicious | Also Known For |
|---|---|
| Iwan Rheon | Misfits, Game of Thrones, American Gods, The Dirt |
| Frances de la Tour | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The History Boys, Rising Damp |
| Marcia Warren | The Crown |
| Alexandra Roach | The Iron Lady, Killing Eve, Black Mirror |
| Hazel Douglas (Season 1) | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, The IT Crowd, Run Fatboy Run |
| Celia Imrie (Season 2) | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the Bridget Jones movies, The Diplomat |
| Frances Barber (Season 2) | Prick Up Your Ears, Doctor Who, King Lear |
| Alistair Brammer (Season 2) | Les Misérables, The Watchers |
| Richard Gadd (Season 2) | Baby Reindeer |
Frances de la Tour, another legendary British theater performer and best known as Olympe Maxime in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, plays Stuart and Freddie’s eccentric long-time friend, Violet. Marcia Warren, who is known for her performance as the Queen Mother in The Crownin seasons 5 and 6, portrays Penelope, another old friend of Freddie and Stuart, and a woman who is a deep philosophical thinker, yet also forgets things at the drop of a hat. Titan TV and radio star Philip Voss plays the last of their group, Mason, who is later revealed as Freddie’s brother.
There are plenty of other notable British actors in Viciouswho play guest or recurring characters. For example, Richard Gadd as a delivery man, Alexandra Roach as Ash’s on-off girlfriend, Chloe, and Frances Barber as Violet’s girlfriend in the final episode, Carlotta.
Will Vicious Ever Return To Screens?
Vicious Probably Won’t Come Back, But Never Say Never
From 2013 to 2015, Vicious aired two seasons on ITV before it was canceled. However, in lieu of a season 3, Vicious wrapped up with a one-off special in 2016. In the last episode, Stuart and Freddie try to hide the inheritance they receive in Mildred’s will, Ash and Violet are financially struggling, Ash later reveals his intentions to attend university in America, and Penelope worries about losing her memory. Despite the darker tone, there is a happy ending, with the couple gifting their money to their friends and Freddie finally being cast in a new radio play.
The finale of Vicious is heartwarming, bleak, and hilarious, all at the same time.
The finale of Vicious is heartwarming, bleak, and hilarious, all at the same time, and it proves why LGBTQ+ representation is so important in the media. The last episode reflects on Stuart and Freddie’s lengthy relationship and the trials and tribulations they have faced, as well as the strange and brilliant chosen family they’ve formed with Ash, Violet, Mason, and Penelope.
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While there is a chance Vicious could return to screens in the future, it’s very unlikely. Even if the show did come back, there would be one notable absence, as Philip Voss passed away in 2020. However, it isn’t impossible, especially as Freddie and Stuart’s money can allow Ash to return to the UK with ease or for Violet to pop up whenever she feels like it (which she already does).
