Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, Frances de la Tour, Iwan Rheon, Marcia Warren, Philip Voss.

The new I.T.V. comedy Vicious has two very big surprises attached to it. The first is that it must have been a hell of meeting when they announced that two of the biggest names of British theatre were to be cast in the lead roles and secondly that it was actually enjoyable. I.T.V. may be on top when it comes to excellent drama, the channel really having pulled out all the stops in its determination to be considered to be the natural home of the thriller and dramatic story line but its comedy has not been that well received.