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. 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 (series 1) and Mark Heap (series 2) as Philip Quil: Judith's partner and Marcus's headteacher; the change of casting was addressed by Philip saying that he had changed his hairstyle 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 Episode list Series 1 (2011) Series 2 (2012) Christmas Special (2012) Reception Reception of the series has been varied. Olly Grant of The Telegraph described the new series as "a very promising little comedy, and [Robert] Lindsay is particularly good in it." The premiere was described by Ben Arnold (The Guardian) 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 (Telegraph), but Jack Seale (Radio Times) 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 (Guardian) wrote: In 2012, Sam Wollaston (Guardian) 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