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Sir Ian McKellen set for ITV gay sitcom



Stage and screen veterans McKellen and Jacobi will play a couple who have lived together for nearly 50 years

Veteran British actors Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi are teaming up to play a bickering gay couple in a new ITV1 sitcom.

Vicious has been created by Will and Grace writer Gary Janetti and award-winning playwright Mark Ravenhill. The show, to air next year, will also feature Rising Damp actress Frances De La Tour as their feisty best friend. Sir Ian will play ageing actor Freddie who has lived in a cramped flat with Sir Derek's Stuart for nearly 50 years. Their worlds are turned upside down when a young man called Ash moves in upstairs.

Writer and co-producer Janetti, who has also worked on award-winning US comedy Family Guy, said he was "incredibly excited" to be working with "this unbelievable cast". ITV's comedy commissioning editor, Myfanwy Moore, said the broadcaster was "thrilled this exciting and bold sitcom, with stellar performers and writing talent is to join the increasing slate of new look comedy shows on the channel".

Dan. wrote:Mitt Romney disapproves.

Drunken_Master wrote:Impressed they got Serena on board. Thought he'd be too high-profile for an ITV sitcom. On the other hand Sir Derek Jacobi does In the Night Garden for Cbeebies. He's also pretty adept at comedy, his guest spot on Frasier was one of the highlights of that show. (No mean feat)

TimeGhost wrote:'You're a fag hag of great refinement Miss Jones'

I wonder if this 'Ash' will be a young black man. Excited, Cal?

Vicious has been created by Will and Grace writer Gary Janetti.

Ironhide wrote:I don't know how I feel about this, on one hand Sir Ian is a great actor but on the other hand it'll probably be a bit too gay to be watchable. It's nothing to do with being homophobic, it's just that I imagine it'll be difficult for a straight viewer like myself to relate to.

StayDead wrote:

Drunken_Master wrote:Impressed they got Serena on board. Thought he'd be too high-profile for an ITV sitcom. On the other hand Sir Derek Jacobi does In the Night Garden for Cbeebies. He's also pretty adept at comedy, his guest spot on Frasier was one of the highlights of that show. (No mean feat)

I adore frasier, one of my favourite sitcoms ever, yet I've never seen that bit. Bloody hell!

Skippy wrote:

StayDead wrote:

Drunken_Master wrote:Impressed they got Serena on board. Thought he'd be too high-profile for an ITV sitcom. On the other hand Sir Derek Jacobi does In the Night Garden for Cbeebies. He's also pretty adept at comedy, his guest spot on Frasier was one of the highlights of that show. (No mean feat)

I adore frasier, one of my favourite sitcoms ever, yet I've never seen that bit. Bloody hell!

It's on Channel 4 right now.

Tafdolphin wrote:>ITV

Out.