Vicious

Winter weather got you down?  I find the best way to fight the cold weather blahs is a good dose of British comedy. Sitcoms are a great antidote because they are short, efficient at lifting spirits and they’re brimming with chuckles and the occasional guffaw.

In aid of the communal mental health of British TV fans, I’ve compiled a list of stream-able UK comedy series. Each is celebrating an anniversary of sorts in 2018 and with this sort of variety you should be able to find one to suit your sense of humor. If you're unfamiliar with a particular show, test out the clips and see what tickles your fancy.

Comedy series Vicious will air its last episode this summer.

The news the show would not be returning for a third season was announced by ITV late last year, though the cancellation blow was somewhat softened by the fact that it was given a final, extended one-off episode to wrap everything up. And, at last, now we have an official airdate for the series’ swan song.

The comedy will officially bow out with a one-night, series finale special that’s set to air on Sunday, June 19 on PBS stations nationwide. Reminder, however: June is a pledge month for most PBS stations, so it's highly likely your particular station may be moving this broadcast around on its schedule. Make sure you check your local listings! (WETA folks, we'll be airing this on WETA UK that day!)

The highly anticipated second season of Vicious, the ITV sitcom starring acting legends Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi as a bickering, co-dependent gay couple is coming to America at last!

This is great news, since we’ve been waiting quite a while for the show to continue – Season 2 was commissioned way back in September 2013 and originally aired here in the US last summer. Due to the very busy schedules of both its leads, it took quite a bit of time for new episodes to be produced, but now we can finally see the continuing adventures of Freddie and Stuart for ourselves.

The highly anticipated second season of Vicious, the ITV sitcom which stars acting legends Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi as a bickering, co-dependent gay couple, is almost upon us. It seems like we’ve been waiting for this forever, which in some ways, we have, since Series 2 was commissioned in September 2013 and the first season originally aired here in the US last summer. So, yeah, bring on new episodes! We are sooo ready for them.

The second season will once again be comprised of six half-hour episodes. McKellen and Jacobi are both returning (obviously) as the titular “vicious” couple, along with regular cast members Frances de la Tour (as Stuart and Freddie’s BFF Violet) and Iwan Rheon (as Ash, their younger upstairs neighbor).

The sitcom Vicious has just started airing on PBS stations this past weekend and it certainly lives up to its name. Starring British acting legends Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi, the two play a gay couple who’ve been together for almost half a century. A lifetime of companionship has worn on their collective nerves and most of what remains between them is catty remarks, primarily from Freddie (McKellan), and not just a little resentment on the part of Stuart (Jacobi).

Of course deep down the two men really do love one another, but if everything between them was sweetness and light it wouldn’t be nearly as funny, would it?

That got me to thinking about other telly couples who are prone to rows and other types of altercations. Regardless of the nature of the relationship, discord and disagreement makes things interesting and, when you’re not the one in the middle of it all, funny as well.

Gay comedy Vicious – starring acting legends Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi – will premiere on PBS stations nationwide beginning June 29.

McKellen and Jacobi play elderly gay couple Freddie and Stuart, who’ve been living together in a small central London flat for nearly fifty years. Their co-dependent relationship is largely focused around the two of them sniping at one another and walking the dog, but the two love each other deeply. Their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of a new upstairs neighbor named Ash, played by Game of Thrones' Iwan Rheon. Ostensibly, this will be a much less psychotic character than the one he plays in Westeros.

The sitcom aired in the UK last year, and its addition to the PBS roster marks a rather exciting foray into comedy for the network’s national Sunday night schedule which, I think it’s safe to say, is something we all hope continues into the future.

The first US trailer for the Vicious premiere at the end of the month has been released and, in an extremely pleasant surprise, it actually features different footage than the bits featured in the ITV promo last year. Huzzah.

It’s official: Gay British comedy Vicious – which stars acting legends Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi – will make its American debut this summer on PBS stations nationwide beginning June 29.

Vicious follows the story of elderly gay couple Freddie (McKellen) and Stuart (Jacobi) who have been living together in the same Covent Garden flat for nearly 50 years. An incredibly co-dependent duo, their primary activities seem to be centered around bickering with one another, making sarcastic comments and walking the dog, but there is, nevertheless a deep love between them. However, the couple finds their lives turned upside down by the arrival of their new young upstairs neighbor, played by Game of Thrones' Iwan Rheon in a much, much less creepy role then you’re generally accustomed to seeing him on Sunday nights these days.

It’s official: The first season of gay sitcom Vicious –starring acting legends Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi – will be making its American debut next year. According to Deadline, Shine International has closed a deal with PBS to bring the comedy to local stations nationwide in 2014.

The comedy, which follows the adventures of an elderly gay couple who have been living together in the same Covent Garden flat for nearly fifty years. An incredibly co-dependent duo, they spend most of their time bickering and walking the dog, but the couple finds their lives turned upside down with the arrival of their new young upstairs neighbor. Harry Potter’s Frances de la Tour and Game of Thrones’ Iwan Rheon also star.

Vicious bowed in the UK to mixed reviews but strong ratings, premiering as the highest-rated comedy launch of any UK channel in 2013 at the time of its airing. It went on to average around 3.4 million viewers an episode, which isn’t exactly Downton Abbey numbers, but is certainly nothing to sniff at either.

Watch the UK trailer below.

From the how on earth did I miss this bit of news files…..

ITV’s Vicious, the gay comedy starring the legendary Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi has been officially renewed for a second series. The comedy had already been confirmed to be returning for a Christmas special at the end of this year, but its fate beyond that point had been up in the air.

ITV’s Director of TV Peter Finchman announced the renewal news at the recent Edinburgh International Television Festival, calling Vicious “a very bold sitcom with a wonderful cast”.

Read on for more.