VICIOUS tells the story of partners Freddie (Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek Jacobi), who have lived together in a small central London flat for nearly 50 years. Constantly picking each other apart and holding on to petty slights for decades, Freddie and Stuart are always at each other’s throats, cracking snide remarks aimed at the other’s age, appearance and flaws. However, underneath their vicious, co-dependent fighting, they have a deep love for one another. Freddie and Stuart are often joined by feisty best friend Violet (Frances de la Tour, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows") and Ash (Iwan Rheon, GAME OF THRONES), their young, upstairs neighbor.
Episode One airs Sunday, June 29 at 10:30 p.m. & repeats on Saturday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. - Freddie and Stuart host a wake to mark the passing of a dear friend. Joined by their small circle of elderly friends, the couple manages to create a splendidly awkward evening of meager food and liberal insults. Joining them is Freddie and Stuart’s young neighbor Ash, whose sexuality is a point of interest. Ash spends the evening trying to be a good guest while fending off the advances of Freddie and Stuart’s predatory best friend, Violet.
Episode Two airs Sunday, July 6 at 10:30 p.m. & repeats on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. - Freddie and Stuart shop for a new coat for Freddie for his fan club event. Since the coat is more expensive than they’d expected, Stuart finds a way of secretly raising some cash. Meanwhile, Ash seeks Freddie and Stuart’s advice to win back his ex-girlfriend. Violet is more than happy to help, and Ash and Violet, along with friend Penelope, take an eventful trip to the shops, where they make a shocking discovery.
Episode Three airs Sunday, July 13 at 10:30 p.m. & repeats on Saturday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. - Ash is confused about his career. Freddie, who has an important audition coming up, suggests Ash pursue acting and teaches him the tricks of the trade. When Ash secures an acting role after only one audition, Freddie is thrown into a state of depression. Stuart must come up with a plan to renew his confidence. Meanwhile, Violet seeks advice from Freddie and Stuart about her tumultuous love affair with her Hungarian boyfriend.
Episode Four airs Sunday, July 20 at 10:30 p.m. & repeats on Saturday July 26 at 7:30 p.m. - Freddie, Stuart and the gang go clubbing after Ash gets a job handing out club fliers. By the end of the night, only Freddie is left standing and Stuart feels left out. Overcome by popularity, Freddie heads back to the club with Ash’s trendy friends, but soon realizes clubbing isn’t for him. With Violet in Argentina with her new lover, Stuart seeks comfort in his dotty friend Penelope, who offers him some surprising advice.
Episode Five airs Sunday, July 27 at 10:30 p.m. & repeats on Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 p.m. - Freddie and Stuart invite Ash and his new girlfriend, Chloe, to dinner. Infrequent acting work has been getting Freddie down, but things are looking up for Ash, who has fallen in love with the perfect woman. Or is she? As the evening progresses, Chloe’s habits stop seeming so sweet and tensions mount over dinner. Violet, meanwhile, is having difficulty with her lover in Buenos Aires.
Episode Six airs Sunday, August 3 at 10:30 p.m. & repeats on Saturday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m. - Freddie and Stuart expect a long-awaited guest at their anniversary party. When Ash accidentally mentions the party to Stuart’s mother, Stuart decides, finally, to tell her that he and Freddie are a couple. The whole clan comes around again to celebrate a typically awkward and eventful evening. Freddie is excited about the arrival of a celebrity actor guest he invited, but Stuart doubts she’ll show up.
VICIOUS was produced by ITV.
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"The story of partners Freddie (Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek Jacobi)
