First Looks: Vicious & The Job Lot

Next Monday for those who won't be watching Game Of Thrones/lamenting the loss of Broadchurch, ITV are planning to treat you with at least two new sitcoms, both of which look pretty decent.

Vicious is a seven part series (formerly titled Vicious Old Queens) in which Derek Jacobi and Ian McKellen play an older gay couple, Freddie and Stuart who have lived in the same flat in Covent Garden for the last 50 years. Amongst the cast are the couple's best friend Violet, played by Frances de la Tour and former Misfits actor, Iwan Rheon as their new upstairs neighbour, Ash. ITV clearly have confidence in this show because they've already commissioned a Christmas special for it and it's about time we had a show that properly focused on an older gay couple and with McKellen and Jacobi, I really hope this show is a roaring success for ITV. It certainly looks good from what I can see.

Elsewhere, the other sitcom airing next Monday is The Job Lot. A six part series, featuring Russell Tovey (Being Human), Sarah Hadland (Waterloo Road) and Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey), the show focuses on a group of people running a job centre in the West Midlands and well, trying to get their clients work I suppose. I have to admit, the trailer didn't exactly blow me away but it's got a decent cast and it could be a surprise hit. I'll let you be the judge but it is nice to see Tovey in another TV role again.

Vicious Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnM2O8kxPeQ
The Job Lot Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuAbYuqfT48

Vicious and The Job Lot will air at 9pm and 9.30pm on ITV from April 29th.

ITV Comissions Vicious Old Queens

Yes, of all the stations to commission a gay themed comedy, it seems that ITV are stepping into the fray with both Derek Jacobi and Ian McKellan starring as elderly couple in the show that's being titled, Vicious Old Queens.

The show will centre on both McKellen and Jacobi's characters living in Convent Garden and will run for 6 half hour long episodes and has been written by Gary Janetti, whose other credits include both Will & Grace and Family Guy.

Originally, Vicious Old Queens was intended as a one-off for SkyArts but it seems that the concept was strong enough to be made into a series. Here's hoping it's a good one for ITV1 because the casting is certainly a great coup for them already.

Press Release: http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000952/itv_gay_sitcom_jacobi_mckellen_vicious_old_queens/

Vicious Old Queens will air on ITV1 from April 2013.