Award-winning Spy returns to Sky 1 HD on 19 October at 8pm

Monday 1 October 2012

Award-winning Spy returns to Sky 1 HD on 19 October at 8pm

“Yet another superb offering from Sky’s new comedy roster” – Radio Times

 

“Splendidly silly new series… It’s properly funny” - Heat

Following critical acclaim and an award-winning performance from Darren Boyd,the second series of SPY will air exclusively on Sky 1 HD on 19 October at 8pm.

Part of Sky 1 HD’s Comedy Fridays, the first series received rave reviews and attracted acclaim from both critics and the public for Simeon Goulden’s scripts. Paired with a BAFTA and British Comedy award-winning performance from Darren Boyd (Case Sensitive, Holy Flying Circus), Spy was an overnight hit.

The pitch perfect cast return with Rebekah Staton (Pulling, Mysterious Creatures) Robert Lindsay (My Family) and young star Jude Wright playing Boyd’s quick-witted son, all reprising their roles.

SPY follows hapless single father Tim (Boyd), whose one aim in life is to get his precocious son Marcus (Wright) to like him.  The first series saw Tim accidentally recruited into MI5, and followed his attempts to balance his secret life as a trainee agent with his chaotic domestic life.

Under the watchful eye of The Examiner (Lindsay), Tim surprised himself by successfully qualifying as a fully-fledged secret agent, although without winning the heart of his colleague Caitlin (Staton).

The first series ended with Tim’s no-hoper friend Chris (Mathew Baynton Horrible Histories) managing to win Tim’s custody case to keep Marcus with him, despite the protestations of his ex-wife Judith (Dolly WellsCampus) and her over-eager new boyfriend Philip (Tom Goodman-Hill Doctor Who, Ideal).

The new series will follow Tim as a newly qualified agent as he continues to keep his secret from those closest to him and attempts to win the love of his son.

Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy for Sky, commented: “I am delighted by the response to SPYFinding smart yet accessible pre-watershed comedy for adults and kids to watch together is a vital part of our story on Sky 1 HD. We couldn’t have asked for a better start and are excited by the plans for the next series.”

Jimmy Mulville, Executive Producer, Hat Trick Productions, added: “Simeon Goulden has created a wonderfully crazy world populated with memorable characters all played beautifully by a supremely talented cast. We can't wait to get going on a second series.

SPY is created and written by Simeon Goulden. It is a Hat Trick production for Sky 1 HD and will be Produced by Simeon Goulden and Directed by Ben Taylor. The series was commissioned by Lucy Lumsden, Head of Comedy for Sky and will be executive produced by Jimmy Mulville and Helen Williams.

SPY is part of Sky's commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels. This commitment follows the success of home-grown content such as Sky1 HD dramas MadDogs and Thorne and the BAFTA-winning documentary Flying Monsters 3D.

This commitment follows the success of home-grown content such as entertainment hits GOT TO DANCE, AN IDIOT ABROAD and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, dramas such as STRIKE BACK and MAD DOGS, comedies such as TROLLIED and THIS IS JINSY, and factual shows such as ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD and the BAFTA-winning documentary FLYING MONSTERS 3D.   Other forthcoming highlights include the returning series of Craig Cash’s THE CAFE; Ruth Jones’ STELLA and STARLINGS starring Lesley Sharpe and Brendan Coyle.

ENDS

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For further information please contact:                               

Rowan Adams  
                                                                                

Senior Publicist, Sky 1 HD                                                             

T: +44 (0)20 7032 3078                                                                     

M: +44(0)7557 847 485                                                                  

E: rowan.adams@bskyb.com                                                    

Notes to Editors:

About Sky

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Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service.  Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service.   Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.

About Sky 1 HD:

Sky 1 HD is the most watched non-terrestrial channel in Sky homes, attracting more than 20m unique viewers every month and, according to the latest tracker results (October – December, 2011), was the third highest valued channel amongst all Sky subscribers behind only BBC1 and ITV1.

Sky 1 HD distinguishes itself from rival networks with original drama and comedy, talked about entertainment formats, distinctive factual programming and award-winning exclusive US drama.

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