Radio Times: Review by:; Jack Seale

Tim really is a loser. As we meet him he’s suffering yet another dressing-down from his nastily precocious nine-year-old son (Jude Wright), his withering ex and her annoying new bloke. He’s stuck in a terrible retail job. He’s lazy, nervous and accident-prone.

Tim’s the character Darren Boyd was born to play, in other words, and consequently everything Boyd says and does is funny in this new comedy from relatively unknown writer Simeon Goulden.

Today, Tim’s life changes as he accidentally gets a job working as an MI5 agent with licence to kill. The bumbler-out-of-water gag is a bit of an easy comedy win that could feasibly wear thin over a series — but based on the cutting comebacks and rat-a-tat timing here, it probably won’t. As Tim’s Secret Service colleagues, Robert Lindsay and Rebekah Staton are excellent foils for Boyd.

About this programme

1/6. Thirtysomething Tim is accidentally recruited to be a trainee spy for MI5, a dramatic change from his former dead-end job. However, he is locked in a custody battle with his ex-wife over their son, who does not enjoy spending time with his dad, and also has to contend with his new boss known as the Examiner. Comedy, starring Darren Boyd, Dolly Wells and Robert Lindsay.