Spy (2011 TV series)

Spy is a British situation comedy created and written by Simeon Goulden. The first series aired on 14 October 2011 on Sky 1 in the UK, as well as on the online video service Hulu in the United States. A second series began airing on 19 October 2012, ending with a Christmas Special on 26 December 2012. On 1 March 2013, Darren Boyd announced that the show would not be returning for a third series.

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Cast and characters

Darren Boyd as Tim Elliot
Jude Wright as Marcus Elliot, Tim's ten-and-a-half year-old son
Robert Lindsay as The Examiner, Tim's boss
Dolly Wells as Judith Elliot, Tim's ex-wife
Tom Goodman-Hill and Mark Heap as Philip Quil, Judith's partner and Marcus's headteacher
Mathew Baynton as Chris Pitt-Goddard, Tim's friend and former colleague who is secretly a lawyer
Rebekah Staton as Caitlin Banks, Tim's MI5 colleague
Rosie Cavaliero as Paula Abdul, Marcus's first social worker who had a romantic obsession with Tim
Ed Coleman as Moritz Skenk, Tim's hapless coworker
Ellie Hopkins as Justine, Marcus's love interest
Terence Maynard as Marion Portis, Caitlin's long-missing, assumed dead, fiancé
Miles Jupp as Owen, Marcus's second social worker
Frank Kauer as Nick Chin, Marcus's rival
David K. S. Tse as David Chin, Nick's father

Reception

Reception of the series has been varied. Olly Grant of The Telegraph described the new series as "a very promising little comedy, and Lindsay is particularly good in it."
The premiere was described by Ben Arnold as a "hopeful offering", but wrote, "It will need considerably more laughs in future episodes to stand repeat viewing." The series' second episode was termed "mediocre" by Catherine Gee, but Jack Seale wrote "never mind that everyone's crazy and nothing is real, so that – like a lot of US sitcoms – you wouldn't mind missing an episode. When you're in front of it, Spy keeps doling out quick, cheap, satisfying laughs." In a 2011 year-end wrap-up, Julia Raeside wrote:
In 2012, Sam Wollaston described it as "totally ridiculous, but in a charming way" and having "a lovable silliness."

DVD release

The complete first series of Spy was released on DVD on 5 November 2012. The complete second series of Spy was released on DVD on 29 July 2013.

International remakes

An American version was being discussed to broadcast on ABC. ABC released casting info for the show, with Rob Corddry being cast as Tim, Mason Cook as Marcus, Paget Brewster in the new role of Erica as Marcus' mom and Tim's ex-wife, replacing Judith, Moshe Kasher as Chris, Camille Guaty as Caitlin, and Ken Jeong as The Examiner. Nat Faxon was to guest star in the pilot, and if the series was picked up, would have been a guest star in as many episodes as possible. The show was to be produced by ABC Studios and Hat Trick Productions, with Simeon Goulden, Jimmy Mulville and Helen Williams as executive producers. The series was to be written by Simeon Goulden as well, with Alex Hardcastle directing the pilot. On 10 May 2013, Deadline reported that ABC had passed on the pilot.