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This Country
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
Production
Executive producerStephen McCrum
ProducerSimon Mayhew-Archer
EditorCraig Harbour
Running time21–31minutes
Production companyBBC Studios
Original release
NetworkBBC Three
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 and directed by Tom George, the series focuses on the day-to-day lives of two cousins living in a small hamlet 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.[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] while 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.[12]

Cast

[edit]

Main cast

[edit]
  • 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, frequently finding herself with very little to do other than spend time with her cousin, Kurtan, with whom she engages in absent-minded mischief and occasionally antisocial behaviour. Kerry often struggles to put other people before herself and this is demonstrated in Episode 1 of series 2 "Random Acts of Kindness" where she donates a PS3 to Slugs as a goodwill gesture, then immediately requests it back after Slugs doesn't show a level of gratitude that she wanted. She tends to see herself as a figure of authority in the village with "enemies" in nearby villages. In reality, no one sees her this way because she often shies away from confrontation, and her attempts to present herself as tough and authoritative are usually met with mockery or accusations of acting up in front of the cameras. Throughout the series, more details are revealed about Kerry's difficult family situation which undoubtedly have shaped her behaviour and character.
  • 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 in order to fulfil it, although these are usually ill-fated. He is also somewhat more sensitive and considerate to other people than Kerry, and has an especially close attachment to the village's vicar, Rev. Francis Seaton. However, he can be cynical, paranoid and prone to angry outbursts, and as much as he tries to rise above Kerry's immaturity, he is sometimes not much better and often finds himself in conflicts about trivial issues. He lives with his grandmother, whom Kerry despises.

Supporting cast

[edit]
  • 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 (in a sense filling a void left by Kerry's negligent parents), assisting them in times of need and encouraging them to be good people, which is not always met with compliance. While Kerry and Kurtan mock his old-fashioned tastes and his Christian do-gooder persona, this is done with good intentions as they are generally very fond of him since he has their interests at heart more than anyone else in the community. His role as vicar requires him to be a friend to everyone in the community, and he is always happy to lend an ear to anyone, though this means when conflicts do arise he struggles to manage them.
  • Michael Sleggs as Michael "Slugs" Slugette (series 1–2). A quiet young man who has terminal cancer. Despite his tragic circumstances, Kerry and Kurtan show a reticence to become too friendly with him, describing him as "annoying".
  • 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, and in the rare event he does pay her any attention it is almost always for personal gain. Much to the protests of others who all see him as the man he is, Kerry ignores this and continues time and again to give Martin the benefit of the doubt under the delusion that he cares about her, even after his attempts to manipulate her into handing herself in for stealing vacuum cleaners, a crime which he himself perpetrated but set Kerry up for. He has fathered two other children, Martin and Marvin, with Sandra. This is 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 of Martin Mucklowe.[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 an unsettlingly boorish demeanour. Her behaviour can be unpredictable and as a result of this, she is the only person in the village that Kerry and Kurtan genuinely find intimidating, though it is never certain as to whether she intends to be a bully to people or is in fact a rather lonely, misunderstood woman. She has a brash manner of speaking and tells whimsical anecdotes in which she has committed acts of violence or other forms of crime, such as the time she stalked Hannah Spearritt from S Club 7 for three or four years. Though Kerry and Kurtan never know whether to believe such stories, they nonetheless give her the air of a possible ex-convict which causes them to label her a 'psychopath'. In truth, very little is known about her backstory. She often pursues short-lived creative endeavours, such as becoming a tattoo artist and joining the village book club to showcase her creative writing skills, but her efforts are often laughably poor as she demonstrably possesses very little creative talent.

Recurring cast

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]
  • 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)

Production

[edit]

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.[13][14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

On 30 May 2019, actor Michael Sleggs announced that he was suffering from heart issues and did not have long to live.[17] He died 40 days later at the age of 33.[18] The third and final series was filmed from August to October 2019, and broadcast from February to March 2020.[16][19]

Episodes

[edit]
SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
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)

[edit]
# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Scarecrow"[20]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"[21]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 Rob Robinson, a classmate whom neither Kerry nor Slugs can recall. Mandy, the local "hard woman", informs them 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"[22]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 him. The cousins argue bitterly over whose food should occupy the top shelf of the oven.
4"King of the Nerds"[23]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. However, Kurtan is instead more interested in playing Warhammer with his new "nerdy" friends, Neil and Nathan.
5"Peeping Tom"[24]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"[25]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)

[edit]
# Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Random Acts of Kindness"[26]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper26 February 2018 (2018-02-26)
Kerry has turned over a new leaf and is trying to do good deeds for 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"[26]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"[27]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 public transport disrupt his plans. Meanwhile, Kerry helps the vicar run the local football team.
4"The Vicar's Son"[28]Tom GeorgeDaisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper19 March 2018 (2018-03-19)
When the vicar's son Jacob 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"[29]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 and end up getting lost in the woods.
6"Family Loyalties"[30]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, which turns out to be receiving stolen goods and hiding them in a garage.

Special (2018)

[edit]
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
"The Aftermath"[31]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)

[edit]
# 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)
Michael 'Slugs' Slugett dies and leaves behind a letter to Kurtan, which reveals that in 2007, Kerry broke a bed and 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. Len Clifton 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 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 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 which is later spoiled by Big Mandy and her storytelling.
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

[edit]

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."[32] 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."[33] 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."[34]

Awards

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 Royal Television Society Awards Scripted Comedy This Country Won [35]
Comedy Performance Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Won
Breakthrough Award Nominated
Writer: Comedy Won
British Academy Television Awards Best Scripted Comedy This Country Won [36]
Best Female Comedy Performance Daisy May Cooper Won
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Nominated [37]
Best Breakthrough Talent Won
2019 British Academy Television Awards Best Female Comedy Performance Daisy May Cooper Nominated [38]
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper Won [38]
Royal Television Society Awards Comedy Performance: Female Daisy May Cooper Nominated [39]
2020 Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards Director - Comedy Drama / Situation Comedy Tom George Nominated [40]
2021 British Academy Television Awards Best Scripted Comedy This Country Nominated [41]
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 [42]
Royal Television Society Awards Comedy Performance: Male Paul Chahidi Nominated [43]

Home video releases

[edit]

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 12 2 2017–2018 12 22 October 2018[44]
Complete Series 3 1 2020 7 30 March 2020[45] Includes the Aftermath Special
Complete Series 13 3 2017–2020 19 30 March 2020[46] Includes the Aftermath Special

Adaptation

[edit]

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.[47] On 24 February 2020, Seann William Scott was cast in main role for the pilot.[48] On 4 March 2020, Chelsea Holmes, Sam Straley, Taylor Ortega and Krystal Smith were cast in main roles for the pilot.[49] On 10 July 2020, Aya Cash and Justin Linville were cast in main roles for the pilot.[50] 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.[51] On 4 December 2020, Desmin Borges joined the cast in recurring role.[52] On 30 December 2020, Jason MacDonald joined the cast in a recurring role.[53] On 17 May 2021, it was announced that the series title had been changed from This Country to Welcome to Flatch.[54]

Books

[edit]

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.[55][56]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
This Country is a British mockumentary sitcom that chronicles the everyday lives of cousins Kerry Mucklowe and Kurtan Mucklowe in a small, fictional rural village in the region of . Created, written by, and starring real-life siblings as Kerry and Charlie Cooper as Kurtan, the series premiered on on 8 February 2017 and aired for three seasons, concluding in 2020 with a total of 19 episodes. Directed by Tom George and executive produced by Stephen McCrum, it employs a style to humorously portray the challenges, quirks, and social dynamics faced by young people in modern rural Britain, drawing from the creators' own experiences growing up in the . The show received widespread critical acclaim for its authentic writing, sharp comedy, and standout performances, earning a 96% approval rating on and an 8.5/10 on . It garnered multiple awards, including three in 2018 for Best Scripted Comedy, Best Comedy Performance (), and Best Comedy Writer (Daisy May and Charlie Cooper), as well as BAFTA Television Awards for Best Scripted Comedy in 2018 and Best Male Comedy Performance (Charlie Cooper) in 2021.

Premise and format

Premise

This Country is a mockumentary series that centers on the daily lives of cousins Kerry Mucklowe and Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe as they contend with the ennui and idiosyncrasies of existence in a small, fictional Cotswolds village. The show depicts Kerry, a frequently unemployed young woman entangled in local scandals and harboring aspirations to leave the stifling rural environment for greater opportunities, alongside Kurtan, her steadfast cousin with a penchant for minor mischief and a protective demeanor toward family. Central themes include the isolation of rural Britain, fraught family relationships, petty community rivalries, and satirical insights into countryside customs, all conveyed through observational humor rooted in the creators' upbringing in . The setting highlights ordinary village happenings, such as church fetes and pub socials, underscoring the blend of tedium and tight-knit bonds in small-town . The mockumentary format presents these elements as if captured by a film crew documenting the cousins' unremarkable yet poignant routines.

Mockumentary style

This Country employs a mockumentary format that draws inspiration from earlier British comedies like The Office and People Just Do Nothing, utilizing handheld camera work to simulate a documentary crew capturing unscripted rural life. This approach incorporates direct-to-camera interviews, often serving as "talking heads" segments where characters like Kerry and Kurtan break the fourth wall to share their inner thoughts and frustrations, enhancing the observational humor centered on the mundane absurdities of village existence. The style emphasizes authenticity through on-location shooting in the Cotswolds, which grounds the narrative in a tangible rural setting and amplifies the sense of isolation and familiarity. Key stylistic elements include deadpan delivery and awkward silences that build , allowing viewers to vicariously experience the discomfort of social and trivial conflicts. Dialogue often feels improvised and laced with regional accents, contributing to a naturalistic that avoids exaggerated effects in favor of ambient village noises and off-screen interactions, such as sudden shouts or environmental sounds. These techniques foster subtle humor derived from escalating absurd situations, where everyday events spiral into comically awkward territory without overt punchlines. Episodes typically run for approximately 25 minutes and follow a non-linear structure, weaving together observational scenes with vox pops—short, impromptu interviews—from various villagers that provide context and . This format allows for a storytelling method, where interviews retroactively explain or comment on the action, heightening the mockumentary's fly-on-the-wall illusion while underscoring the boredom and eccentricities of rural life.

Cast and characters

Main characters

Kerry Mucklowe is the central of This Country, portrayed by , and depicted as a young woman in her late twenties living in a rural village, prone to paranoia, impulsive failed schemes, and strained family relationships, particularly with her father Martin. Throughout the series, Kerry's arc evolves from aimless escapades and self-sabotage in Series 1 to tentative steps toward independence and self-reflection by Series 3, including pursuing qualifications and mending familial bonds. Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe, Kerry's cousin and steadfast companion, is played by Charlie Cooper and characterized by his unwavering loyalty to family, mischievous pranks, and a series of comical mishaps in work and social endeavors, such as awkward job stints and dating blunders. His close bond with Kerry often leads to collaborative schemes, while interactions with uncle Martin highlight his role as the family's and occasional voice of reason. Martin Mucklowe functions as a paternal figure to Kerry and uncle to Kurtan, portrayed by Paul Cooper as a no-nonsense builder with a gruff exterior masking underlying care, frequently clashing with Kerry over her lifestyle choices. The portrayals of Kerry and Kurtan benefit from the authentic sibling chemistry between Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, real-life brother and sister, whose natural rapport and during scenes—especially in early episodes—infuse the characters with genuine awkwardness and humor.

Recurring and guest characters

The recurring characters in This Country flesh out the fictional Cotswolds village, emphasizing the quirky, interconnected nature of rural social life through satirical portrayals of everyday eccentrics and authority figures. Michael Sleggs, a real-life friend of creators and Charlie Cooper from , played Michael "Slugs" Slugett across the first two series as the soft-spoken village oddball dealing with terminal cancer, whose gentle demeanor and tragic backstory provided emotional depth amid the comedy without overshadowing the central narrative. Sleggs' performance, drawn from his own experiences, highlighted themes of resilience in small communities, and the third series opened with a episode titled "A Letter from Slugs" following his death in 2019. Trevor Cooper portrayed Len Clifton, the meddlesome local artisan and parish council member who appears in 11 episodes, often stirring minor conflicts with his self-important gossip and DIY enthusiasms, satirizing the petty power plays in village hierarchies. Paul Chahidi's Reverend Francis Seaton, the bumbling yet earnest vicar featured in 17 episodes, serves as a recurring foil to the protagonists' schemes, embodying the awkward benevolence of rural through his futile attempts at moral guidance and community events. Additionally, provided the voice for Sue Mucklowe, Kerry's unseen but vociferous mother, shouting from off-screen in 16 episodes to underscore domineering family tensions and the invisible pressures of matriarchal control in tight-knit households. Guest characters, often appearing in single episodes, inject episodic humor by amplifying specific subplots tied to village absurdities, such as family secrets or local scandals, while maintaining the show's focus on ensemble satire. Notable one-offs include as Kerry's Mandy Harris in series 1, who sparks rivalries over petty social status, and a no-nonsense probation officer in series 2, critiquing bureaucratic intrusions into rural life. A high-profile cameo came in series 3 with an unnamed celebrity as Kurtan's grandmother (credited pseudonymously as Elvira Presley, with her face blurred in the episode), delivering wisdom in a brief family scene that blended celebrity appeal with authentic generational humor. These supporting figures and guests enhance the mockumentary's world-building by illustrating community interdependencies—nosy neighbors, flawed leaders, and fleeting outsiders—without advancing primary plots, allowing the to poke fun at rural insularity through layered, relatable interactions. The casting leaned heavily on local talent, including non-professional actors like Sleggs, to infuse authenticity, with the Coopers encouraging during rehearsals to capture Cotswolds dialects and mannerisms, mirroring real village dynamics observed in their hometown.

Production

Development and creation

This Country was created by siblings and Charlie Cooper, who drew heavily from their personal experiences growing up in the rural village of to craft the series' premise. The characters Kerry and Kurtan were inspired by real-life individuals from their youth, including troublesome siblings known for their vulnerability beneath a tough exterior, with Kerry partly based on a local girl who crafted snowflake decorations despite her aggressive demeanor. The writing process began when the Coopers, in their twenties, returned home after unsuccessful stints in education—Charlie having dropped out of university and Daisy facing post-drama school. Living with their parents amid financial hardship, including from their family home and sharing a single broken mattress, they penned early scripts during night cleaning shifts to make ends meet. These autobiographical elements infused the show with authentic depictions of and boredom, emphasizing emotional depth in characters to support bold comedic risks. Early development included short YouTube sketches and tasters that captured village life anecdotes. An initial pilot produced in collaboration with ITV and in 2014 proved unsuccessful, with the Coopers later describing it as "horrendous" and the characters resembling overly polished figures akin to those in Glee, prompting significant revisions to achieve the grounded tone. Undeterred, Daisy May Cooper directly emailed BBC Controller of Comedy Commissioning Shane Allen in 2015 with their pitch, highlighting the show's unique take on overlooked rural British youth. This persistence led to greenlighting the project, resulting in the premiere of the first series with six episodes in February 2017. The success of the debut series prompted to commission a second run of six episodes in July 2017, followed by additional series and specials in subsequent years, allowing the Coopers to expand their exploration of small-town dynamics and personal growth. Creative decisions prioritized realism drawn from their upbringing, such as family tensions and community quirks, ensuring the series evolved organically while maintaining its intimate, affectionate portrayal of life.

Filming and production details

The series was filmed on location primarily in the market town of , and surrounding areas in the , utilizing authentic rural settings to enhance the mockumentary's realism. Production made extensive use of real private homes for the Mucklowe family residence, local pubs like The Wheatsheaf Inn for community scenes, and open fields for outdoor sequences, avoiding constructed sets to capture the everyday texture of village life. Filming occurred in short, intensive blocks to align with the series' modest scale and seasonal availability in rural . The first series was shot over three weeks in 2016, the second during the summer of 2017, and the third from August to October 2019, allowing crews to work efficiently while navigating the logistical demands of remote locations. These timelines facilitated quick turnarounds, with emphasizing the integration of confessional-style interviews through careful to preserve the documentary-like flow. The production was directed by Tom George across all three series, whose approach prioritized naturalism by encouraging and minimal intervention during takes to maintain the unscripted feel of the format. Producer Simon Mayhew-Archer managed the on-set operations, focusing on streamlined workflows that supported the show's intimate scale. Backed by Comedy Productions, the series adopted a low-budget, independent production model that emphasized practical and resource efficiency over high-end effects or studio builds. This approach not only kept costs down but also reinforced the grounded portrayal of rural Britain, with the rural setting presenting inherent logistical hurdles such as access to sites and coordination in spread-out areas.

Broadcast and episodes

Broadcast history

This Country premiered on on 8 February 2017, with the first series consisting of six episodes airing weekly through March 2017. The second series followed on in 2018, also comprising six episodes from February to March, alongside a special titled "The Aftermath" broadcast later that year. Due to its growing popularity, particularly on , the third and final series shifted to in 2020, premiering on 17 February with another six episodes airing weekly. The series began with a niche audience on the then-online-only but rapidly expanded, accumulating over 52 million requests on across all series and the special, making it one of the channel's biggest comedies since 2016. This viewership surge highlighted its appeal to younger demographics, transitioning from targeted digital broadcasts to broader linear television exposure on . Internationally, the series gained distribution on streaming platforms in select regions post-2020, including availability on Stan in . This expansion built on its domestic success, allowing global audiences access beyond initial broadcasts.

Episode list

The series comprises three six-episode series and one standalone special, totaling 19 episodes, with standard runtimes of approximately 23 minutes each. All episodes were directed by Tom George and written by and Charlie Cooper.

Series 1 (2017)

No.TitleAir dateSynopsis
18 February 2017Kurtan immerses himself in the annual village scarecrow festival, a major community event that highlights local rivalries and divisions.
2Mandy15 February 2017The village buzzes with gossip when Kerry's former school friend Mandy returns after serving time in , stirring up old memories and judgments.
3Oven Space22 February 2017Kerry and Kurtan await the release of their Steve "Nugget" Nuggins, prompting reflections on loyalty and perceptions of justice in the village.
41 March 2017Kerry attends a village hall talk by a businesswoman running a possible , while Kurtan makes some new friends.
5Peeping Tom8 March 2017Kerry's father Martin faces village-wide accusations of being a peeping tom, leading to awkward confrontations and defenses from the .
6GNVQ15 March 2017Kerry and Kurtan contemplate leaving the village behind, weighing their limited opportunities against the familiarity of rural life.

Special (2018)

TitleAir dateSynopsis
The Aftermath13 October 2018Eight months after Kerry's involvement in her father Martin's criminal scheme, this special examines the ongoing repercussions, community fallout, and Kerry's dilemma between and family loyalty as police scrutiny intensifies.

Series 2 (2018)

No.TitleAir dateSynopsis
1Random Acts of Kindness26 February 2018Kerry embarks on a mission to perform around the village, but her efforts backfire and create more chaos than goodwill.
2Threatening Letters5 March 2018Anonymous letters cause in the village, with Kerry and Kurtan investigating potential culprits among their neighbors.
3Minor Injuries12 March 2018A minor accident leads Kerry to the local clinic, where she exaggerates her symptoms and clashes with the overworked staff.
4The Vicar's Son19 March 2018The vicar's son Jacob returns from , and Kurtan attempts to help him readjust to village life while Kerry pursues her own misguided charitable initiatives.
5Steam Fair26 March 2018The annual steam fair arrives, prompting Kurtan to plan a trip to for new clothes, but transport issues and family obligations derail his outing.
6Family Loyalties2 April 2018Kurtan finds purpose in a job at the local bowls club, but Kerry's latest scheme pulls him into family drama, testing Mucklowe loyalties.

Series 3 (2020)

No.TitleAir dateSynopsis
1A Letter from Slugs17 February 2020An unusual complaint about slugs leads Kerry and Kurtan into a bizarre village dispute, highlighting petty local grievances.
2Driving Lesson24 February 2020Kerry attempts to pass her with Kurtan's reluctant help, resulting in tense lessons and revelations about their sibling-like dynamic.
32 March 2020The return of infamous family relative forces Kerry to reassess her living situation, while the and Kurtan tackle the church's efforts.
4Kurtan's Half-Brother9 March 2020Kurtan grapples with sad news about a relative, and Kerry dives into a local book club that exposes her to new social awkwardness.
5The Station16 March 2020Kerry and Kurtan visit the to welcome the home from a trip to , while Kerry tries to impress a potential employer.
6Harvest23 March 2020The annual harvest festival brings the village together, but one resident's announcement has unexpected emotional consequences for the community.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

This Country has received widespread critical acclaim for its sharp mockumentary style and authentic portrayal of rural British life. The series holds a 96% approval rating on based on 21 reviews, with critics praising its blend of humor and poignancy. Reviewers have highlighted the show's exceptional writing and performances, particularly by creators and stars and Charlie Cooper as cousins Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe. The Guardian described it as "perfectly observed," capturing the desperation and quirks of village existence in a way that resonates deeply with audiences familiar with small-town dynamics. The first series was particularly lauded for its fresh take on the mockumentary format, drawing comparisons to classics like The Office while introducing a novel focus on overlooked rural youth. The Telegraph called it "the best British comedy since The Office," commending its assured pacing and ability to skewer everyday absurdities without condescension. Subsequent seasons built on this foundation, with Season 3 earning praise for its emotional maturity, as it delved deeper into character backstories and social issues amid the characters' personal growth. The Guardian noted how the final series "finds welcome opportunities to deepen characters... and illuminate broader social issues and sadnesses," especially poignant in its timing just before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life. While overwhelmingly positive, some critics pointed to minor flaws, such as occasional reliance on familiar rural stereotypes that could feel repetitive in later episodes and specials. A review acknowledged "some pretty decent laughs" but critiqued the trope as overused in , suggesting it risked staleness despite the show's strengths. The Telegraph echoed this in its finale review, observing that the series' niche appeal meant it was a show "you either get or you don't," with its deliberate pacing sometimes baffling newcomers.

Cultural impact and recent developments

This Country has left a lasting cultural legacy through its authentic depiction of rural British life, capturing the mundane struggles and humor of small-town existence in a way that resonated widely with audiences. The series' portrayal of cousins Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe navigating boredom and community quirks in the has been praised for bringing underrepresented rural voices to the forefront of British television, influencing subsequent comedies by emphasizing genuine, observational humor over urban-centric narratives. The show's fanbase remains highly engaged, as evidenced by its exceptional performance on , where it amassed over 52 million requests across three series and a special, making it one of the channel's biggest comedies since transitioning online in 2016. This strong digital viewership, particularly among the 16-34 age group, underscores its enduring appeal and role in driving BBC Three's online success. Since the series concluded in 2020, developments have included ongoing revival discussions, with Charlie Cooper expressing openness to returning in interviews throughout 2024 and 2025, while Daisy May Cooper cited her changed appearance due to as a barrier, ruling out a in October 2025 but teasing a potential return just weeks later due to financial motivations. In 2025, the Coopers collaborated on the unscripted series NightWatch, investigating the UK's haunted spots, showcasing their ongoing partnership beyond This Country. In a notable 2025 crossover, Kerry and Kurtan made a surreal cameo appearance in the season 2 finale of Am I Being Unreasonable?, delighting fans with the characters' brief return in a comedic context. Beyond , This Country subtly influenced broader conversations by highlighting themes of and challenges through its characters' everyday experiences, contributing to greater awareness of these issues in isolated communities.

Awards and recognition

Awards won

This Country has garnered significant recognition for its writing, performances, and overall scripted excellence, accumulating multiple prestigious awards from leading British television bodies. The series won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Scripted in 2018, highlighting its innovative style and portrayal of rural life. In the same year, received the BAFTA for Female Performance in a Programme for her role as Kerry Mucklowe, praised for its authentic and layered depiction of small-town eccentricity. Additionally, at the 2018 BAFTA TV Craft Awards, and Charlie Cooper were awarded the Breakthrough Talent prize for their collaborative writing and creative vision that launched the series. At the 2019 BAFTA TV Craft Awards, and Charlie Cooper won the Writer: award. In 2021, Charlie Cooper earned the BAFTA Television Award for Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for his portrayal of Kurtan Mucklowe, recognizing his nuanced in the final series. These BAFTA victories underscore the Coopers' dual contributions as and performers, central to the show's success. At the Royal Television Society (RTS) Programme Awards 2018, This Country secured three wins: Best Scripted , Comedy Performance for , and Writer – Comedy for Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, affirming the series' impact in its debut season. By 2020, the programme had amassed around 10 major awards across these categories, reflecting its critical acclaim in writing, , and production.

Nominations

This Country received numerous nominations from prestigious award bodies, totaling 14 across its run, which highlighted the series' strong ensemble and writing without resulting in additional wins. At the , the show earned additional nods in categories such as Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for in 2019 and supporting actor performances in later seasons. Beyond BAFTA, the series was shortlisted for the National Television Award for Best in 2018 and 2020, reflecting public and industry support for its relatable rural humor. The show demonstrated consistent recognition for its writing and ensemble work from 2017 to 2020, with frequent shortlistings at bodies like the for categories including breakthrough talent and comedy performance.

Other media

Adaptations

In 2020, Fox announced a US adaptation of This Country titled , developed by writer and director as an . The series, set in a small town, retained the style and focused on eccentric rural characters, starring Chelsea Holmes as Kelly and Sam Richardson as Shithouse, loosely mirroring the original's Kerry and Kurtan dynamic. Original creators and Charlie Cooper served as executive producers, providing oversight during development, and made cameo appearances reprising their roles as Kerry and Kurtan in select episodes. The pilot received a series order for 14 episodes in October 2020, marking Fox's first commitment for the 2021-22 season, and premiered on March 17, 2022. Welcome to Flatch ran for two seasons, totaling 27 episodes, before Fox canceled it on October 6, 2023, citing insufficient audience response despite positive critical notes on its faithful adaptation of the source material's humor. The show explored similar themes of small-town boredom and interpersonal quirks but incorporated American cultural elements, such as local festivals and community events, while avoiding direct plot recreations from the original. No further spin-offs or extensions have been announced as of 2025. In 2025, characters Kerry and Kurtan made cameo appearances in season 2 of the comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, created by , serving as a crossover nod to the original series. Internationally, interest in adapting This Country has surfaced but not progressed to production. Discussions for an Australian version were reported in media outlets around 2020-2021, potentially relocating the premise to a rural setting, though these remain unconfirmed and no pilot or series has materialized by 2025. The Coopers have been involved in pitching oversight for such international projects, emphasizing the need to preserve the original's authentic portrayal of rural life. Beyond direct remakes, This Country has influenced subsequent mockumentaries without spawning official spin-offs, contributing to a wave of rural-focused comedies like (HBO, 2017-2023), which echo its blend of absurdity and heartfelt observation, though no formal ties exist.

Books and home releases

The official tie-in book for the series, This Is This Country: The official book of the BAFTA award-winning show, was published on 3 October 2019 by Trapeze, an imprint of . Written in the voices of protagonists Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe (portrayed by and Charlie Cooper), it features humorous behind-the-scenes anecdotes, character profiles, and fictional dispatches from their village, blending mockumentary-style insights with the show's comedic tone. The book, available in , e-book, and audiobook formats (narrated by the Coopers), received positive reviews for extending the series' charm and was promoted as a companion to the TV episodes. No additional official short story collections or novels directly tied to the series have been released. Home video releases began with individual series DVDs distributed by . Series 1 was issued in 2017, followed by Series 2 in 2018 and Series 3 in 2020, each containing the full episodes from their respective seasons. A comprehensive Complete Collection DVD , encompassing all three series (18 episodes) plus the 2018 This Country: The Aftermath special, was released in 2020 by 2 Entertain Video, offering region 2 and 4 compatibility for and international markets. These DVDs include standard extras such as episode commentaries and outtakes, but no official Blu-ray editions have been produced. Digitally, all episodes are fully available for free streaming on within the , where the series has amassed over 52 million requests since its debut as of 2020. Outside the , availability varies; as of 2025, the show streams on Stan in but is not offered on major U.S. platforms like or Prime Video, though individual seasons can be purchased on DVD via Amazon, but digital purchase or rental is not available on major U.S. platforms. Official merchandise remains limited, with the tie-in as the primary licensed product beyond apparel items like a charity-raffled Swindon Town shirt worn by Kerry Mucklowe.

References

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