Series 2 of Vicious sees Marcia Warren back as dopey Penelope...

What do you think is the secret of the success of the show?

It's got a real warmth about it and I think that's very unusual on modern television. And of course, it's terribly funny.

It's called Vicious because of the way Stuart and Freddie speak to each other, but I think if you can see that that's affectionate and that it comes from a deep love, you will love it.

You see it in couples all the time, if you've been together for a few year, you do bicker, don't you? I suppose you're so comfortable with each other, you feel you can say anything, and they're not going to take it to heart too much. And if you do overstep the mark, they will just say so, rather than sitting there seething.

What's it like to film in front of a live studio audience?

If you're playing a sitcom with three people who have played King Lear, as we are, they can go very deeply into their characters.

Your theatre training does come out because you have time to rehearse, and a live audience. But you do have to play to the camera too, which is a terrifying medium!

This is the most amazing profession. The job I did before was a psychopathic serial killer who murdered three children. Then I'm in a French maid's costume with a feather duster with Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi! It's extraordinary, really, I'm terribly lucky.

Is there a different tone to the second series compared to the first?

We've taken it out of the house much more and there's an episode in a gym for example. I'm not in that one, luckily, because I've never been to a gym in my life! But whilst the boys are working out, Violet and Penelope take over their house and Violet decides she wants to re-upholster the furniture.

I'm involved in the ballroom dancing episode, I do a waltz with Philip in a nice pink dress.

I've been very lucky with the costumes this time. I've decided that Penelope's husband was in the jewellery business, so I can wear lots of jewellery. I never usually get to do roles that you have nice costumes for, so this is great fun for me. I'd love to steal some of Penelope's clothes but they're mostly hired and have to be given back unfortunately.