10 Roles That Showed Doctor Who Actors In A Completely Different Light

7. Derek Jacobi €“ Vicious

Derek Jacobi's Master may have only realised who he was for less than ten minutes, but it's still one of the most seething, frightening incarnations of the Time Lord. When the switch flicks, and Professor Yana remembers his real life, we all gasped, as the gentle exterior melted into a bubbling rage; the Master was reborn, ready to regenerate into a psychotic new body. It's probably a surprise for anyone engrossed by that unbelievable guest appearance, to see Jacobi in ITV comedy Vicious, a show that centres around him and Sir Ian McKellen, who play a gay couple in a long-term relationship. Jacobi's character is a million miles away from his portrayal of both Yana and the Master: he's a former bar manager living in the shadow of his former-actor boyfriend, who enjoys catty arguments in his relationship. It's a similar left-turn for co-star McKellen, but at least he manages to retain his Gandalf-like majesty to play the theatrical Freddie. Jacobi's another actor held in high esteem for his serious drama work, and the Master was a perfect part for him. His imperious command of the screen is reduced to a double act in Vicious though, a comedy that tows the line between silly and rude; it's more like the chemistry he'd enjoy with Captain Jack than the Doctor.