Derek Jacobi promises a gentle conclusion to sitcom Vicious

SITCOM Vicious bows out in style with an hour-long special this week.

Freddie, Stuart and Violet – played by Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi and Frances de la Tour – are back for one final flourish.

It’s actually split into four seasons, with highlights including Freddie’s birthday and Violet deciding on a major lifestyle change.

“Freddie and Stuart are still bickering with one another but the special has a great level of nostalgia and sadness,” explains Derek.

“It’s like a parting of the ways, it all comes to a gentle conclusion.

“It’s also very funny but the humour in this is less raucous than other episodes.

“It’s a gentler humour.”

Series’ highlights for Derek included scenes that saw them go dancing, clubbing and to the gym.

And there’s an obvious fondness as he looks back over the experience.

“The studio audience were so lovely to us all.

“Once we had a set change that was taking time, so Ian and I did a Q&A session with the audience, they loved it.

“Ian and I found it difficult at first filming as we’re so used to the theatre, but eventually we found our way and loved every minute.”

Derek reckons things have been written in such a way that viewers get a good farewell and it doesn’t feel too final.

He admits he’ll really miss it, saying the pair came to love it dearly.

So, would he consider another sitcom?

“You betcha! I loved it, so yes, I would,” he adds.

“In the US, Last Tango In Halifax and Vicious were both on the same TV channel on the same night.

“At 8pm, I was married to Anne Reid and at 9pm I was married to Ian McKellen – beat that!”

Vicious, ITV, Friday, 9pm