PBS Gets U.S. Rights to "Vicious"

[JamesG]

PBS Gets "Vicious" with Gary Janetti’s Ian McKellen & Derek Jacobi Sitcom
by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
10/31/13


Shine International has closed a deal with PBS on "Will & Grace" exec producer Gary Janetti’s British sitcom "Vicious". The public broadcaster will air "Vicious" in the U.S. next year.

The initial six-part series premiered on ITV in April and at the time was the highest-rated comedy launch on any UK channel in 2013. It went on to hold an average of about 3.4M viewers.



Veteran British thesps Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi play a constantly bickering couple who’ve lived together in a small Covent Garden flat for nearly 50 years. But underneath all their vicious co-dependent fighting, they deeply love each other.

Harry Potter‘s Frances de la Tour and "Game of Thrones‘" Iwan Rheon also star.



The show was given a second-season order by ITV in August and Shine America has been exploring a U.S. version.

"Vicious" is a Brown Eyed Boy production in association with Shine’s Kudos and Nickelby Inc. The deal was brokered by Matt Vassallo, Bill Gardner, and Jack Dougherty on behalf of PBS.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/10/pbs-...jacobi-sitcom/