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| This Country |
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 | | Genre | |
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| Created by | |
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| Written by |
- Daisy May Cooper
- Charlie Cooper
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| Directed by | Tom George |
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| Starring |
- Daisy May Cooper
- Charlie Cooper
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
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| No. of series | 3 |
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| No. of episodes | 19 |
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| Production |
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| Executive producer | Stephen McCrum |
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| Producer | Simon Mayhew-Archer |
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| Editor | Craig Harbour |
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| Running time | 21–31minutes |
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| Production company | BBC Studios |
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| Original release |
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| Network | BBC Three |
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| Release | 8 February 2017 (2017-02-08) –
23 March 2020 (2020-03-23) |
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This Country is a British mockumentary sitcom, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Three on 8 February 2017. Created by, written by and starring siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper and directed by Tom George, the series focuses on the day-to-day lives of two cousins living in a small village in the Cotswolds.[1] The programme includes themes of social clumsiness, the trivialities of human behaviour, the eccentricities of living in rural England, and the boredom and social isolation of young people in small communities. The programme shows relatable and comedic situations in every episode.[2][3]
The Cooper siblings play the central characters, cousins Kerry and Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe.[4] Much of the series revolves around their unlikely friendship with the local vicar, Rev. Francis Seaton, played by Paul Chahidi.[5] The Coopers' father, Paul Cooper, plays Kerry's father Martin Mucklowe;[6][7] their uncle, Trevor Cooper, plays local man and antagonist Len Clifton.[8][9][10] Although credited to "Ivy Woodcock", the voice of Sue Mucklowe – Kerry's mother, never seen on screen – is provided by Daisy May.[11]
Across the three series and the special, This Country received more than 52 million BBC iPlayer requests, and was later added to the platform shortly after its end.[12][13]
Cast
Main cast
- Daisy May Cooper as Kerry Mucklowe. Kerry lives with her mother, Sue, who is never seen (also voiced by Cooper, she communicates with Kerry by yelling at her from her bedroom). Due to the limited opportunities and mundanity in the rural area where she lives, she is nihilistic and lacking in self-purpose.
- Charlie Cooper as Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe, Kerry's cousin. Although equally as bored as his cousin Kerry, Kurtan tends to have slightly more ambition in life and has plans to leave the village. He lives with his grandmother, whom Kerry despises.
Supporting cast
- Paul Chahidi as the Rev. Francis Seaton, the parish vicar. Kind-hearted Rev. Seaton is responsible for most of the events that bring the village community together. He is also something of a father figure and mentor to Kerry and Kurtan, assisting them in times of need.
- Michael Sleggs as Michael "Slugs" Slugette (series 1–2). A quiet young man who has terminal cancer.
- Paul Cooper as Martin Mucklowe, Kerry's estranged father. Although Kerry thinks the world of her dad, he is shown to be a selfish, narcissistic man who does not reciprocate her fondness for him at all. This was Paul Cooper's first acting role; he is the lead actors' real father, and had no previous experience when he was encouraged to go to the screen test for the role.[6] Cooper reportedly based the voice and mannerisms of his character on unsettling police interview tapes with serial killer Fred West,[6] who lived nearby in Gloucester.
- Ashley McGuire as Mandy Harris. Known as 'Big Mandy' to some, she is a woman in the village who has a thuggish-looking appearance and a boorish demeanour.
Recurring cast
- Trevor Cooper as Len Clifton. An elderly, lonely man who is a hoarder.
- Daisy May Cooper (credited as Ivy Woodcock) as Sue Mucklowe (voice only)
- Eliza Hunt as June Winwood (series 1, 3)
- Celeste Dring as Kayleigh Hudson, a painfully shy and emotionless girl who becomes Kurtan's short-lived girlfriend before ending up with Slugs.
- Badger Skelton as Levi Johnson (series 1)
- David Hargreaves as Arthur Andrews (series 2–3)
- Abra Thompson as Sophie Huxley (series 2–3)
- Nic Kozyrev as Liam "Pork Chop" Dunmore (series 1–3)
- Colin Wakeman as Colin Cresswell (series 2–3)
Guest cast
- Matthew Rees as Robert Robinson (series 1)
- Preston Nyman as "Weak" Nathan Kay (series 1)
- Laura Checkley as Shaz Gallagher (series 1)
- David Nightingale as Steve "Nugget" Nuggins, Kerry's uncle (series 1)
- Alfie Simmons as Neil "Count Fartula" Pedley (series 1)
- Liam Steward-George as PC Webber (series 1–2)
- Jimmy Walker as Dan Greaves (series 2–3)
- Gerran Howell as Jacob Seaton, the Vicar's son (series 2)
- Elvira Presley as Kurtan's Nan (series 3)
Production
The series was filmed on location in and around the small town of Northleach. Daisy Cooper said, "All the material is based around stuff that happens in Cirencester, but when we went to the channel they thought that Cirencester was a bit too big and Northleach is a smaller village, and sort of isolates the characters a bit more. Makes them more claustrophobic."[3] The location used for exterior shots of Kerry's house is at 16 Fortey Road in Northleach.[16][17]
Filming for the first series began in September 2016 and finished three weeks later.[3][8] A second series was quickly confirmed, with filming taking place over the summer of 2017 and its first episode being released on 26 February 2018.[18] A one-off special episode, forming an epilogue to the second series, was filmed over the summer of 2018 and broadcast in October that year.[19]
On 30 May 2019, actor Michael Sleggs announced that he was suffering from heart issues and did not have long to live.[20] He died 40 days later at the age of 33.[21] The third and final series was filmed from August to October 2019, and broadcast from February to March 2020.[19][22]
Episodes
| Series | Episodes | Originally released |
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| First released | Last released |
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| 1 | 6 | 8 February 2017 (2017-02-08) | 15 March 2017 (2017-03-15) |
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| 2 | 6 (+1) | 26 February 2018 (2018-02-26) | 2 April 2018 (2018-04-02)
10 October 2018 (2018-10-10) (special) |
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| 3 | 6 | 17 February 2020 (2020-02-17) | 23 March 2020 (2020-03-23) |
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Series 1 (2017)
No.
overall | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
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| 1 | "Scarecrow"[23] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 8 February 2017 (2017-02-08) |
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Kurtan enters the annual village scarecrow-making competition with high hopes of winning first prize and getting his photograph on the front page of The Gazette. His hopes are dashed when he finds there has been a mix-up with the allocation of pitches and he must set up his scarecrow at the distant and little-visited Trowley Bottom Farm. Kerry is apparently challenged to a fight by youths from a neighbouring village. |
| 2 | "Mandy"[24] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 15 February 2017 (2017-02-15) |
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Kerry and Kurtan are celebrating the news that their former woodwork teacher from school has died. Kurtan becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to Rob Robinson, a classmate whom neither Kerry or Slugs can recall. Mandy, the local "hard woman", announces that she is setting up a business as a tattoo artist and intimidates Kerry into agreeing to have a tattoo, despite demonstrating that she has no artistic talents. |
| 3 | "Oven Space"[25] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 22 February 2017 (2017-02-22) |
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Kerry and Kurtan are awaiting the arrival home of their uncle, "Nugget" Nuggins, who is being released from prison. It becomes apparent that while Kerry looks up to Nugget and is excited by the prospect of his return, Kurtan is not so enthusiastic and is terrified of him. While they both wait for their uncle's return, arguments break out over whose food should occupy the top shelf of the oven. |
| 4 | "King of the Nerds"[26] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 1 March 2017 (2017-03-01) |
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Following an argument with her mother about money, Kerry decides to look for a job. With an assurance of potential earnings of £15,000 per month, she is persuaded to join a pyramid scheme, taking out a loan of £200 to buy her way in. Assisted by Kurtan she attempts to establish a door-to-door sales operation. However, Kurtan is instead more interested in playing Warhammer with his new "nerdy" friends, Neil and Nathan. |
| 5 | "Peeping Tom"[27] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 8 March 2017 (2017-03-08) |
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Kerry's estranged father Martin is accused of voyeurism and kicked out of his home by his girlfriend Sandra. Kerry attempts to establish a new relationship with him while he is temporarily living in a caravan in a field. Kurtan and Slugs become rivals for the attention of Kayleigh Hudson, a girl who has just moved to the village. |
| 6 | "GNVQ"[28] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 15 March 2017 (2017-03-15) |
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Kurtan is offered a place at Swindon College, studying for a GNVQ in health and social care. Kerry has difficulty coming to terms with the idea that he will be leaving the village and her behind. Rev. Seaton attempts to act as an intermediary to reconcile their differences. |
Series 2 (2018)
No.
overall | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
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| 1 | "Random Acts of Kindness"[29] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 26 February 2018 (2018-02-26) |
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Kerry has turned over a new leaf and is trying to do good deeds for her community. Meanwhile, Kurtan has made the decision to not go to Swindon College indefinitely and has formed a new relationship with a girl called Sophie. This relationship becomes strained and they eventually break up. |
| 2 | "Threatening Letters"[29] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) |
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Kerry starts to receive some threatening letters that cause her to feel unsettled within the village. Kerry's neighbour, 'Big' Mandy Harris, is on hand to help and advise. Meanwhile, Kurtan takes a labouring job with Kerry's father, Martin, and learns some invaluable life lessons. |
| 3 | "Minor Injuries"[30] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 12 March 2018 (2018-03-12) |
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It's the first Saturday of the month and Kurtan tries to make a pilgrimage to Swindon to buy the new clothes of the season. However, he struggles to find a local bus route that will take him. Meanwhile, Kerry helps the vicar run the local football team and ends up injuring herself during a game. |
| 4 | "The Vicar's Son"[31] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 19 March 2018 (2018-03-19) |
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When the vicar's son Jacob returns to the village, he begins to hang out with Kurtan, who soon realises that he has a problem with drink and drugs. Meanwhile, Kerry agrees to fill in for the vicar on tea-time visits to elderly residents, and she grows to like them more than expected. |
| 5 | "Steam Fair"[32] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper, Charlie Cooper, Tom George, and Simon Mayhew-Archer | 26 March 2018 (2018-03-26) |
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It is Kerry's birthday, but due to disruptions in their plans, they are unable to make it to the local steam fair and end up getting lost in the woods. |
| 6 | "Family Loyalties"[33] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 2 April 2018 (2018-04-02) |
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Kurtan has a job at a bowls club but takes it too seriously. Kerry is excited to be helping her father in his business, which turns out to be receiving stolen goods and hiding them in a garage. |
Special (2018)
| Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
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| "The Aftermath"[34] | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper, Charlie Cooper, Tom George, and Simon Mayhew-Archer | 10 October 2018 (2018-10-10) |
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With seven months having passed since Kerry and Martin were arrested thanks to their “business work”, the village is having to adapt to reality again. Now Martin is in prison, Kerry is doing anything to establish connections with his past, while Kurtan begins to learn some harsh truths about why he no longer works at the bowls club. |
Series 3 (2020)
No.
overall | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
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| 1 | "A Letter from Slugs" | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 17 February 2020 (2020-02-17) |
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Michael 'Slugs' Slugett dies and leaves behind a letter to Kurtan, which reveals that Kerry once broke a bed and blamed it on Kurtan. Kerry gets a job at the local dump but then starts stealing items on the premises. |
| 2 | "Driving Lesson" | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 24 February 2020 (2020-02-24) |
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Kurtan is learning to drive and the vicar runs some errands for people in the village. Len Clifton is taken into hospital for dehydration after he is found in a bush. |
| 3 | "Cynthia" | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 2 March 2020 (2020-03-02) |
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Kerry's dad Martin returns, but she finds that her parents living together again is not what she wanted. She spots him cheating, and he is thrown out. The vicar and Kurtan help Len to get back on his feet. Len finds love online with someone who claims to be called Cynthia but this later turns out to be a scam. |
| 4 | "Kurtan's Half Brother" | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 9 March 2020 (2020-03-09) |
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Kurtan learns that Ray, his half-brother, has died and a funeral is held in the village. Kerry joins the vicar’s book club which is later spoiled by Big Mandy and her storytelling. |
| 5 | "The Station" | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 16 March 2020 (2020-03-16) |
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While the vicar is in Bristol, Kerry takes care of the parish chickens, and Kurtan helps with other problems from the village. Kerry learns that she accidentally left the cage open and the chickens are killed by a fox, while Kurtan becomes impatient with the residents. |
| 6 | "Harvest" | Tom George | Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper | 23 March 2020 (2020-03-23) |
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The vicar promotes Kerry to the leader of the church harvest, while Kurtan prepares to move into a new flat. The vicar decides to leave to run a parish in Bristol, and Kerry and Kurtan bid an emotional goodbye to him. |
Reception
This Country received positive reviews from critics. Stuart Heritage, for The Guardian, described it as a "perfectly observed" comedy, and wrote: "I found myself rewinding entire scenes because I was too busy howling with laughter to hear what was going on."[2] Sean O'Grady, for The Independent, wrote: "It isn't very often that I am able to recommend something because it made me weep tears of laughter, but I am happy and heartened to say that the latest BBC mockumentary, This Country, is sublime enough to have lifted my spirits heavenwards... [It has] an uneasily well-observed quality that raises the comedic genre almost to an art form." Rupert Hawksley, for The Daily Telegraph, wrote: "It is, by some distance, the funniest thing on television at the moment."[35] Mike McCahill, for Reader's Digest, described the programme as an "increasingly cherishable mockumentary" and essential viewing, observing that "[the] Coopers have created an entire universe in a handful of episodes."[36] Arts critic Bruce Dessau concluded: "It might have well-used stylistic elements of both The Office and People Just Do Nothing about it, but it is sharply-written and deftly performed [and] stays just on the right side of cliché. And most importantly both Kerry and Lee are richly comic."[37]
Home video releases
All three series of This Country and the Aftermath Special have been released in Regions 2 both individually and in box sets.
Adaptation
On 4 December 2019, an American adaptation of the series was announced by Fox, developed by Jenny Bicks and directed by Paul Feig.[50] On 30 January 2020, it was announced that the production had been given a pilot order.[51] On 30 October, it was announced that the production had been given a series order and was scheduled for premiere in the 2021–22 television season.[52] On 17 May 2021, it was announced that the title of the American series had been changed from This Country to Welcome to Flatch.[53]
Welcome to Flatch premiered on 17 March 2022 and ran until 2 February 2023, spanning two seasons. The series was cancelled in October 2023.[54]
Books
in October 2019 a tie-in book, entitled This Is This Country: The official book of the BAFTA award-winning show, was published.[55]
References
- ↑ Mutevelian, Sophie (5 February 2017). "Pick of the day: This Country". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- 1 2 Heritage, Stuart (22 February 2017). "This Country: perfect, horrifying TV for anyone who grew up in a village". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- 1 2 3 Merrifield, Ryan (17 February 2017). "Cirencester siblings Daisy and Charlie Cooper talk about their new BBC Three show This Country". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ↑ O'Grady, Sean (3 February 2017). "TV preview: This Country". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ↑ Hawksley, Rupert (17 February 2020). "This Country's vicar Paul Chahidi: 'I'm going to give Andrew Scott a run for his money as a sexy priest'". The i Paper. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- 1 2 3 "This Country's Paul Cooper based Martin Mucklowe on serial killer Fred West". Yahoo News. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ Doran, Sarah. "This Country Cooper family tree: how are the cast related in real life? | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- 1 2 "Behind the Kurtan". The Cotswolds Gentleman. 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ Richardson, Jay (25 January 2017). "Country cousins". Chortle. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ Doran, Sarah. "This Country Cooper family tree: how are the cast related in real life? | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Alice (8 March 2017). "This Country's Daisy May and Charlie Cooper: 'It's basically our experience of growing up in the Cotswolds'". The i Paper. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ↑ Centre, Media (2 April 2020). "This Country bows out with over 52 million BBC iPlayer requests". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ↑ This Country. Retrieved 28 July 2026 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Kerry & Kurtan and Sofie Hagen". Live from the BBC. Series 1. Episode 5. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ "Live From The BBC | Series 1, Episode 5 - Kerry and Kurtan & Sofie Hagen". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ "'It's rubbish': What do the residents of Northleach think of This Country? We went to find out". Gloucestershire Live. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ↑ "Spotting selfies at the filming locations of BBC's This Country". Cotswold Life. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ↑ "This Country: A day on the set of the hit BBC Three series". Independent.co.uk. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022.
- 1 2 "This Country gets a third series and a one-off special". Radio Times.
- ↑ Bennett, Steve. "'I'm dying,' This Country star reveals : News 2019 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk.
- ↑ "One of the stars of BBC comedy This Country, Michael Sleggs, has died aged 33". BBC. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ↑ "This Country". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 1, Scarecrow". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 1, Mandy". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 1, Oven Space". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 1, King of the Nerds". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 1, Peeping Tom". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 1, GNVQ". BBC.
- 1 2 "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Random Acts of Kindness". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Minor Injuries". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, The Vicar's Son". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Steam Fair". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Family Loyalties". BBC.
- ↑ "BBC Three - This Country, The Aftermath". BBC.
- ↑ Hawksley, Rupert (13 March 2017). "Is BBC Three 'mockumentary' This Country the best British comedy since The Office?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ↑ McCahill, Mike (March 2017). "5 TV shows you should be watching this month". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ↑ Dessau, Bruce (February 2017). "Review: This Country, Episode 2, BBC Three (And BBC One)". Beyond The Joke. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ↑ Smith, Neil (21 March 2018). "This Country wins big at RTS awards". BBC News.
- ↑ "2018 Virgin TV BAFTA Television Awards Nominations Announced". BAFTA. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ↑ "Nominations Announced for the British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2018". Bafta. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- 1 2 "BAFTA Television 2019". Bafta. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ↑ "RTS Programme Awards 2018 in partnership with Audio Network". Royal Television Society. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ↑ "CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2020". Royal Television Society. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ↑ "Bafta TV Awards 2021: Winners and nominees in full". BBC News. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ↑ "BAFTA TV 2021: The Winners and Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ↑ "RTS Programme Awards 2021". Royal Television Society. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ↑ "This Country Series 1 & 2 [DVD] [2018]". Amazon.co.uk. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ↑ "This Country Series 3 [DVD] [2020]". Amazon.co.uk. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ↑ "This Country - The Complete Collection [DVD] [2020]". Amazon.co.uk. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ↑ White, Peter (4 December 2019). "Fox Developing Remakes Of UK Drama 'Silent Witness' To Star Melissa Leo & Comedy 'This Country' From Paul Feig". Deadline. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ White, Peter (30 January 2020). "'This Country' Comedy From Jenny Bicks & Paul Feig Inspired By BBC Series Gets Fox Pilot Order". Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ White, Peter (30 October 2020). "'This Country': Jenny Bicks & Paul Feig's Remake Of BBC Comedy Goes To Series At Fox, Net's First Pickup Of 2021/22 Season". Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (17 May 2021). "Fox 2021-22 Schedule: 2 New Dramas, Morris Chestnut Tuesday In Fall, '9-1-1: Lone Star' Held For Midseason". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ↑ White, Peter (6 October 2023). "'Welcome To Flatch' Canceled At Fox After 2 Seasons". Deadline. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
- ↑ Mucklowe, Kerry; Mucklowe, Kurtan (2019). This Is This Country: The official book of the BAFTA award-winning show. Trapeze Books. ISBN 978-1409191117.
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