Thanks to SKY 1 HD, telly watchers on both sides of the pond will be filled with hopes, dreams and reality in 2012-2013 when it comes to good comedy in the not-too-distant future. And, there is a better than good chance that both of these series will land on public television in the States in 2013. For those in the UK that have seen either series, what do you think? For those in the States, interested?

Spy begins second series filming on Monday

Robert Lindsay (My Family) and Darren Boyd (Whites, Holy Flying Circus) star in Spy the story of a hapless single father Tim (Boyd), whose one aim in life is to get his precocious son Marcus 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 and, sometimes, creepy eye of ‘The Examiner’ (Lindsay), Tim surprised even himself by successfully qualifying as a fully-fledged secret agent (the interview exam process is priceless if you haven’t seen).

Boyd, who recently won the BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance in a Comedy Program up against some pretty stiff competition including Hugh Bonneville (Twenty Twelve), Tom Hollander (Rev) and Brendan O’Carroll (Mrs. Browns Boys), is brilliant.

The second series, which will consist of 10 episodes and a Christmas special, 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.

Trollied to re-open in August

A bit beyond the traditional UK way of commissioning series, Trollied was renewed for a second AND third series following a very successful run last year. Set in Valco, a fictional supermarket in the north-west of England, Trollied stars Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous), Jason Watkins (Being Human) and Mark Addy (Thin Blue Line, Full Monty, Game of Thrones). If you haven’t seen, you need to power watch the first set of 8 episodes before series two begins.

Valco to re-open its doors in August with the premiere of the second series of Trollied.