If it's a 'funny' as the first series, I pity those who can laugh at it.

Did they get rid of the non-actor who played Ash?

I was embarrassed for the great actors in the show, Jacobi, McKellen, and de la Tour.

We like it too! ('We' being parents in mid-40s and daughters of 17 and 20!)


Why? Jacobi and McKellen have the show the way they want it - they'd always wanted to work together (having never done so in 50-odd years of knowing each other) and have a bit of fun whilst doing so. They know exactly what they are doing, as does Frances de la Tour (who does what she does in 'Vicious' very well, as she did in 'Big School' too). Your embarrassment on their behalf is not needed - they were thrilled to get a chance to do a second series, as they knew it would take time to find their way around this genre.

No, it's not for everyone - but then, nothing is! But to see such good friends basically having a ball on screen is part of what makes this so good. As someone said up-thread, it's reminiscent of that brilliant (and unique-to-the-UK) genre of 'farce' - and I'd rather than kind of comedy than some of the other things that pass for it these days!

Poor Ash. !

Can't say that I was impressed as others with the episode.

Didn't really like the direction they took Penelope in.
The only laugh I got was when Ash blew the 'ash' off the ring and said "What was that?" and Freddie replied "My mother".

People seem to forget this is a comedy about a long term gay relationship. It does not matter their age, its showing real life and without the need for sex to be shown.
If you cant accept gay people then dont watch it, seems if you have something negative to say about them as a couple then your homophobic.

Just because it does not have random sex scenes or random meeting and dating various guys does not mean its bad.

It helps that both main charachters are gay in real life so the chemistry is there. I hate shows that portray gay people but they are straight in real life it just does not have the connection

What I don't understand is Anthony Cotton (Coronation Street) is reviled as a 'gay stereotype' because he is very, very camp and yet I never hear the same criticism aimed at Sir Ian or Sir Derek in this programme. They are far more, so called 'camp' IMHO

Just an observation.

Oh that's a difficult one to try to explain. I think that the main difference is that Anthony Cotton is camp both in Corrie and in real life and he doesn't come over as a particularly nice character in the programme. He is certainly getting on peoples nerves with his behaviour on the programme.

With Vicious, the humour deliberately comes from the camp relationship between two 'old queens' who have fallen into a way of life that is based on being bitchy to each other. Camp has always had a place in the hearts of the British public with camp comedians such as John Inman, Frankie Howard, Julian Clary, Graham Norton, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Larry Grayson etc being well loved by the British public. If done correctly 'camp' can be very funny and acceptable to the general public. Done badly as is the case I think with Anthony Cotton's character in Corrie and it just annoys people.

Thanks very much for that. I appreciate it.

It does explain a lot. I love all the names you've listed as 'camp comedians' and I do find Sean (Anthony Cotton) funny at times but I can see how it could be annoying.

Maybe if he was on screen longer, then his shortcomings would be more noticeable but we only get him in small doses (thank goodness some would say)

This is getting funnier and funnier. Much better, I think, than the first series.

The scene where FDLT falls to the floor was even better than the famous David Jason bar flap scene, because it was so fast you didn't have time to see it coming.

Nope, not a bit of it, for me. And I don't watch it, but only because it is unfunny.

It's just very bad writing and the guy playing Ash stinks to high heaven.

Nice try, though. Oh, and it's 'you're', not 'your'.

And yet you continue to post on a thread about a programme that you know you have no time for.

Seems a bit obsessive to me,


There is something odd about it - I think it looks as if they are filming the actors playing it as if they were performing an actual stage play. Which is why they all appear to be overacting.

Once you get used to that and concentrate on the humour, it's fine.

very funny episode... loving stuart's bitchiness having a heyday lolz

Your homophobic what?

I'm continuing to enjoy this. It's a huge improvement on the first series, and there are plenty of laughs in each episode. FdlT and Marcia Warren scurrying out of the flat in last week's episode was a high point. I hope this goes on to a third series.

Didn't watch any of the first series but the wife did and she persuaded me to give it a go.

I like it, it's really funny in parts and the dynamic between Stuart and Freddie is just what I expect from an elderly gay couple, bitching all the time.

As for Ash (Owen Rheon) all I can say is he's a non-comedic actor doing the very best he can in a genre he's unfamiliar with. He was excellent in Misfits which was clearly more drama than comedy and you'd hardly know he is actually Welsh given his accent in this programme. I think people are taking it too seriously and expecting Academy Award winning acting when that's not the point.

I think its funny but it wont last long- and there is no need for the course language- that makes me turn off

There's every need for the coarse language, what are you on about?

Surely that should be "what are you f*~^_~g on about?"

Course language has become (sadly) the norm in many comedy programmes. Vicious used the 'F' word in a comical way and in my opinion it worked and was acceptable with today's attitude to swearing/

I like it. . It's one of the few programmes I have on series record. Hope they make another series and I don't get all the Ash bashing, I like the character.

The dance one was funny, but episode one was still the funniest.

The two females are the funniest thing about this. They deserve a spin off.

I wonder if they got the 'incontinent pad commercial' joke from 'Hot In Cleveland'?

Miss Lady Pants.

LOL Freddy went 'Method' on the commercial.

Laughing so much so far

The episodes are just getting better and better.

Penelope was so funny just then! "bo****ks"

As am I. I particularly love how they cemented the fact that Stuart's the women.

Pity that the studio audience seem to be dead.