“What Crime Against Nature Will You Be Serving This Evening?”: Banter, Camp and Discourse in ITV’s Vicious

The British sitcom Vicious (2013), starring Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi, follows the lives of Freddie and Stuart, an elderly gay couple who have been together for almost 50 years. The sharp, witty and often cruel banter that dominates their interactions is a defining feature of the show: the couple engages in endless battles of insults, to which their old friends are accustomed but which cause embarrassment to those who are less familiar with the old couple’s conversational habits. The show’s humorous effect mostly arises from the ambiguity that is inherent in banter: the lines between teasing and true impoliteness are frequently blurred, leaving the audience (and characters alike) wondering where the joke ends and the truth begins. Moreover, the linguistic realisations of banter, which rely largely on hyperbole, exaggeration and extravagance, contribute to the farcical tone of the show and to the series overall campiness. This study explores the complex role of banter in Vicious, analysing its purposes beyond mere humour and illustrating its significance as a linguistic instrument for characterisation, genre, and discourse.