The Britcom Influence of Vicious on PBS

For anyone at all familiar with the genre, it’s clear that the sitcom Vicious, currently airing its second season on PBS, is very much part of the long tradition of “Britcoms.” Although it is written by Gary Janetti, an American, its artistic forefathers are British shows like Rising Damp, Fawlty Towers, Till Death Us Do Part, and Are You Being Served? This video traces Vicious’ roots and shows how stars Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi fit into the long line of camp British comedians like Kenneth Williams, Frankie Howerd, Larry Grayson, and John Inman.