ITV brings axe down on Americans

UK commercial broadcaster ITV is dropping US spy drama The Americans after two seasons.

The Cold War series, which follows two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington DC as they attempt to remain undercover, was renewed by FX in the US for a third season last April and premieres on the channel this month.

ITV aired the first two seasons of the Emmy-nominated series between June 2013 and May 2014 but ratings of the show have fallen since its launch.

An ITV spokeswoman said the company would not be acquiring the third season of the programme.

The series, which starred Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, is a coproduction between Fox Television Studios and FX Productions and has garnered critical acclaim as well as international broadcasters.

It was created by exec producer Joe Weisberg (Falling Skies), a former CIA agent who went on to become an accomplished author. Joel Fields and Graham Yost are also executive producers, along with Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank of Amblin Television.