This Country

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This Country
This Country BBC title card.png
Genre
Created by
Written by
  • Daisy May Cooper
  • Charlie Cooper
Directed byTom George
Starring
  • Daisy May Cooper
  • Charlie Cooper
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series3
No. of episodes19 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerStephen McCrum
ProducerSimon Mayhew-Archer
EditorCraig Harbour
Running time21–31 minutes
Production companyBBC Studios
Release
Original networkBBC Three
Picture format16:9 1080i
Original release8 February 2017 (2017-02-08) –
23 March 2020 (2020-03-23)

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, the series is about the day-to-day lives of two cousins living in a small village in the Cotswolds.[1] The programme centres on 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.[2][3] Following rave reviews and over four million iPlayer requests, on 18 July 2017 the BBC renewed the programme for a second series, the first episode of which released on 26 February 2018.[4] On 20 April 2018, the BBC renewed the programme for a 40-minute one-off special, as well as a third and final series,[5] which aired from February 2020 to March 2020.

The Coopers play the central characters, cousins Kerry and Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe.[6] Their father, Paul Cooper, plays Kerry's father Martin Mucklowe, while their uncle, Trevor Cooper, plays local man and antagonist Len Clifton.[7][8] Although credited to "Ivy Woodcock", the voice of Sue Mucklowe—Kerry's mother, never seen on screen—is provided by Daisy May.[9]

Cast[]

  • Daisy May Cooper as Kerry Mucklowe
  • Charlie Cooper as Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe, Kerry's cousin
  • Paul Chahidi as the Rev. Francis Seaton, the parish vicar
  • Paul Cooper as Martin Mucklowe, Kerry's estranged father
  • Trevor Cooper as Len Clifton
  • Ashley McGuire as Mandy Harris
  • David Hargreaves as Arthur Andrews
  • David Nightingale as Steve "Nugget" Nuggins, Kerry's uncle
  • Eliza Hunt as June Winwood
  • Michael Sleggs as Michael "Slugs" Slugette
  • Celeste Dring as Kayleigh Hudson
  • Liam Steward-George as PC Webber
  • Matthew Rees as Robert Robinson
  • Badger Skelton as Levi Johnson
  • Preston Nyman as "Weak" Nathan Kay
  • Alfie Simmons as Neil "Count Fartula" Pedley
  • Laura Checkley as Shaz Gallagher
  • Gerran Howell as Jacob Seaton, the Vicar's son

Production[]

The series was filmed on location in and around the small town of Northleach, Gloucestershire. 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, Northleach.[10][11]

Filming for series 1 commenced in September 2016, and was completed within three weeks.[3][7] A second series was quickly confirmed, with filming taking place over the summer of 2017 and its first episode released on 26 February 2018.[12] 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.[13]

On 30 May 2019, actor Michael Sleggs—who played Michael "Slugs" Slugette—announced he was terminally ill and had not long to live.[14] He died on 9 July 2019.[15] Series 3 began production in August 2019.[13] Production was completed by October 2019 and aired from February to March 2020.[16]

Episodes[]

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
168 February 2017 (2017-02-08)15 March 2017 (2017-03-15)
26 (+1)26 February 2018 (2018-02-26)2 April 2018 (2018-04-02)
10 October 2018 (2018-10-10) (special)
3617 February 2020 (2020-02-17)23 March 2020 (2020-03-23)

Series 1 (2017)[]

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Scarecrow"[17]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper8 February 2017 (2017-02-08)
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"[18]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper15 February 2017 (2017-02-15)
Kerry and Kurtan are celebrating the news that their former woodwork teacher from school has died. Kurtan becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to Robert Robinson, a classmate whom neither Kerry nor Slugs can recall. Mandy, the local "hard woman", informs them that she is setting up 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"[19]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper22 February 2017 (2017-02-22)
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 the man. The cousins argue bitterly over whose food should occupy the top shelf of the oven.
4"King of the Nerds"[20]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper1 March 2017 (2017-03-01)
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. Kurtan is instead more interested in playing Warhammer with his new "nerdy" friends, Neil and Nathan.
5"Peeping Tom"[21]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper8 March 2017 (2017-03-08)
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 attentions of Kayleigh Hudson, a girl who has just moved to the village.
6"GNVQ"[22]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper15 March 2017 (2017-03-15)
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)[]

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Random Acts of Kindness"[23]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper26 February 2018 (2018-02-26)
Kerry has turned over a new leaf and is trying to give back to her community. Meanwhile, Kurtan is coming to terms with his decision not to go to Swindon College and is struggling to get back into the swing of village life.
2"Threatening Letters"[23]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper5 March 2018 (2018-03-05)
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"[24]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper12 March 2018 (2018-03-12)
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, engineering works on the bus route and a lack of alternative transport options disrupt his plans. Meanwhile, Kerry helps the vicar run the local football practice.
4"The Vicar's Son"[25]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper19 March 2018 (2018-03-19)
When the vicar's son returns to the village, he begins to hang out with Kurtan, who soon realises that something is decidedly wrong with him. Meanwhile, filling in for the vicar on tea-time visits, Kerry comes to like them much more than she expected.
5"Steam Fair"[26]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper, Charlie Cooper, Tom George, and Simon Mayhew-Archer26 March 2018 (2018-03-26)
It is Kerry's birthday, but due to disruptions in their plans, they are unable to make it to the local steam fair.
6"Family Loyalties"[27]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper2 April 2018 (2018-04-02)
Kurtan has a job at a bowls club but takes it too seriously. Kerry is excited to be helping her father in his business, but she does not realise it's illegitimate work.

Special (2018)[]

Title Directed by Written by Original air date
"The Aftermath"[28]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper, Charlie Cooper, Tom George, and Simon Mayhew-Archer10 October 2018 (2018-10-10)
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)[]

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"A Letter from Slugs"Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper17 February 2020 (2020-02-17)
A local resident, Slugs, dies and leaves behind a letter to Kurtan, which reveals that in 2007, Kerry broke a bed but blamed it on Kurtan. Kerry gets a job at the local dump.
2"Driving Lesson"Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper24 February 2020 (2020-02-24)
Kurtan is learning to drive and the vicar runs some errands for people in the village. A local resident is taken into hospital for dehydration after he is found in a bush.
3"Cynthia"Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper2 March 2020 (2020-03-02)
Kerry's dad returns, but she finds that her parents being back together is not what she wanted. She sees him cheating, and he is thrown out. The vicar and Kurtan assist Len with errands.
4"Kurtan's Half Brother"Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper9 March 2020 (2020-03-09)
Kurtan learns that Ray, his half-brother, has died. Kerry joins the vicar’s book club.
5"The Station"Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper16 March 2020 (2020-03-16)
While the vicar is in Bristol, Kerry takes care of the parish chickens, and Kurtan helps with the town problems. Kerry leaves their cage open and they are killed by a fox, while Kurtan becomes impatient with the residents.
6"Harvest"Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper23 March 2020 (2020-03-23)
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."[29] 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."[30] 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."[31]

Awards[]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 Royal Television Awards Comedy Performance Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Won [32]
Scripted Comedy This Country Won
Best Comedy Writer Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Won
British Academy Television Awards Best Scripted Comedy This Country Won [33]
Best Female Comedy Performance Daisy May Cooper Won
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Nominated [34]
Best Breakthrough Talent Won
2019 British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Won [35]
2021 British Academy Television Awards Best Scripted Comedy This Country Nominated [36]
Best Female Comedy Performance Daisy May Cooper Nominated
Best Male Comedy Performance Charlie Cooper Won
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Nominated [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.

DVD Title Discs Year Ep. No. DVD releases Notes
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
Complete Series 1–2 2 2017–2018 12 22 October 2018[38]
Complete Series 3 1 2020 7 30 March 2020[39] Includes the Aftermath Special
Complete Series 1–3 3 2017–2020 19 30 March 2020[40] Includes the Aftermath Special

Adaptation[]

An American version of the series was announced by Fox. On 30 January 2020, it was announced that the production had been given a pilot order.[41] On 24 February 2020, Seann William Scott was cast in main role for the pilot.[42] On 4 March 2020, Chelsea Holmes, Sam Straley, Taylor Ortega and Krystal Smith were cast in main roles for the pilot.[43] On 10 July 2020, Aya Cash and Justin Linville were cast in main roles for the pilot.[44] On 30 October 2020, it was announced that the production had been given a series order and is scheduled for premiere in the 2021–22 television season. The series will be a co-production between Lionsgate Television, Fox Entertainment, Feigco Entertainment and BBC Studios with Jenny Bicks as writer and executive producer and Paul Feig as director and executive producer.[45] On 4 December 2020, Desmin Borges joined cast in recurring role.[46] On 30 December 2020, Jason MacDonald joined cast in recurring role.[47] On 17 May 2021, it was announced that the series title had been changed from This Country to Welcome to Flatch.[48]

Books[]

On 3 October 2019, an official hardback book was released, entitled This Is This Country: The official book of the BAFTA award-winning show, published by Trapeze Books.[49][50]

References[]

  1. ^ Mutevelian, Sophie (5 February 2017). "Pick of the day: This Country". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b Heritage, Stuart (22 February 2017). "This Country: perfect, horrifying TV for anyone who grew up in a village". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b c 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.
  4. ^ Dowell, Ben (18 July 2017). "BBC3 mockumentary This Country returns for a second series". BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. ^ "'BBC Three's This Country to end after season 3". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. ^ O'Grady, Sean (3 February 2017). "TV preview: This Country". The Independent. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Behind the Kurtan". The Cotswolds Gentleman. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  8. ^ Richardson, Jay (25 January 2017). "Country cousins". Chortle. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  9. ^ Jones, Alice (8 March 2017). "This Country's Daisy May and Charlie Cooper: 'It's basically our experience of growing up in the Cotswolds'". i News. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  10. ^ "'It's rubbish': What do the residents of Northleach think of This Country? We went to find out". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Spotting selfies at the filming locations of BBC's This Country". Cotswold Life. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  12. ^ "This Country: A day on the set of the hit BBC Three series". 23 October 2017.
  13. ^ a b "This Country gets a third series and a one-off special".
  14. ^ Chortle.co.uk
  15. ^ "One of the stars of BBC comedy This Country, Michael Sleggs, has died aged 33". BBC. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  16. ^ "This Country". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  17. ^ "This Country, Episode 1" at BBC Online
  18. ^ "This Country, Episode 2" at BBC Online
  19. ^ "This Country, Episode 3" at BBC Online
  20. ^ "This Country, Episode 4" at BBC Online
  21. ^ "This Country, Episode 5" at BBC Online
  22. ^ "This Country, Episode 6" at BBC Online
  23. ^ a b "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Random Acts of Kindness". BBC.
  24. ^ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Minor Injuries". BBC.
  25. ^ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, The Vicar's Son". BBC.
  26. ^ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Steam Fair". BBC.
  27. ^ "BBC Three - This Country, Series 2, Family Loyalties". BBC.
  28. ^ "BBC Three - This Country, The Aftermath". BBC.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ McCahill, Mike (March 2017). "5 TV shows you should be watching this month". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  31. ^ Dessau, Bruce (February 2017). "Review: This Country, Episode 2, BBC Three (And BBC One)". Beyond The Joke. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  32. ^ Smith, Neil (21 March 2018). "This Country wins big at RTS awards". BBC News.
  33. ^ "2018 Virgin TV BAFTA Television Awards Nominations Announced". BAFTA. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Nominations Announced for the British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2018". Bafta. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  35. ^ "Television Craft in 2019". Bafta. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Bafta TV Awards 2021: Winners and nominees in full". BBC News. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  37. ^ "BAFTA TV 2021: The Winners and Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  38. ^ "This Country Series 1 & 2 [DVD] [2018]". Amazon.co.uk. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  39. ^ "This Country Series 3 [DVD] [2020]". Amazon.co.uk. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  40. ^ "This Country - The Complete Collection [DVD] [2020]". Amazon.co.uk. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  41. ^ White, Peter (30 January 2020). "'This Country' Comedy From Jenny Bicks & Paul Feig Inspired By BBC Series Gets Fox Pilot Order". Deadline Hollywood.
  42. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (24 February 2020). "Seann William Scott To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot 'This Country'". Deadline Hollywood.
  43. ^ "'This Country': Chelsea Holmes & Sam Straley To Star, Taylor Ortega & Krystal Smith Also Cast In Fox Comedy Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. 4 March 2020.
  44. ^ "'This Country': Aya Cash & Justin Linville Join Fox Comedy Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. 10 July 2020.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ "'This Country': Desmin Borges To Recur In Fox Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. 4 December 2020.
  47. ^ "'This Country': Jason MacDonald To Recur In Fox Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. 30 December 2020.
  48. ^ 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.
  49. ^ Mucklowe, Kurtan; Mucklowe, Kerry (3 October 2019). This Is This Country: The official book of the BAFTA award-winning show. Trapeze Books. ISBN 978-1409191117.
  50. ^ This Is This Country: The official book of the BAFTA award-winning show. 3 October 2019. ASIN 1409191117.

External links[]

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