Says Ian McKellan

Sir Ian McKellen says his new sitcom shows ‘TV has grown up‘ as it depicts gay characters without mocking them.

In Vicious, which starts on ITV at 9pm next Monday, the theatrical knight plays one half of an aging couple alongside Derek Jacobi.

But he said: ‘It isn’t a satire or an exposé of gay life. These characters just happen to be gay. For me, it is as if TV has grown up.

‘In the past, gay characters in sitcoms have been figures of fun. They were funny because they were gay. But I like the fact that these characters are funny because of the people they are. That’s a real advance.’

In an interview with The Sun, Sir Ian added: ‘It’s a fairly traditional sitcom which reminds me of The Golden Girls or I Love Lucy. It’s a family show that will get the broadest possible demographic.’

Here is a clip:

Published: 22 Apr 2013