8 February 2017 (2017-02-08)– 23 March 2020 (2020-03-23)
This Country is a British mockumentarysitcom, 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. 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.
The Cooper siblings play the central characters, cousins Kerry and Lee "Kurtan" Mucklowe. Much of the series revolves around their unlikely friendship with the local vicar, Rev. Francis Seaton, played by Paul Chahidi. The Coopers’ father, Paul Cooper, plays Kerry's father Martin Mucklowe, The siblings uncle, Trevor Cooper, plays local man and antagonist Len Clifton. Although credited to "Ivy Woodcock", the voice of Sue Mucklowe – Kerry's mother, never seen on screen—is provided by Daisy May.
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.
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, frequently finding herself with very little to do other than spend time with her cousin, Kurtan, with whom she engages in mischief and occasionally antisocial behaviour. Kerry often struggles to put other people before herself. For example, this is demonstrated in series 2 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 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 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
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 believe he is too clingy and annoying, and try to avoid becoming friends with him.
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. 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. Cooper reportedly based the voice and mannerisms of his character on unsettling police interview tapes with serial killer Fred West, 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, Kerry and Kurtan find her intimidating, though it is never certain as to whether she intends to be a bully or is 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 takes up short-lived hobbies, 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.
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)
Origins
The Coopers' first television appearance in character as the Mucklowes was in 2016, on the BBC Three show Live from the BBC.
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." The location used for exterior shots of Kerry's house is at 16 Fortey Road in Northleach.
Filming for the first series began in September 2016 and finished three weeks later. 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. 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.
On 30 May 2019, actor Michael Sleggs announced that he was suffering from heart issues and did not have long to live. He died 40 days later at the age of 33. The third and final series was filmed from August to October 2019, and broadcast from February to March 2020.
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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
15February2017(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 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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
22February2017(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. 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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
1March2017(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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
8March2017(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 attention of Kayleigh Hudson, a girl who has just moved to the village.
6
"GNVQ"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
15March2017(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.
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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
5March2018(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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
12March2018(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, 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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
19March2018(2018-03-19)
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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper, Charlie Cooper, Tom George, and Simon Mayhew-Archer
26March2018(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"
Tom George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
2April2018(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.
Daisy May Cooper, Charlie Cooper, Tom George, and Simon Mayhew-Archer
10October2018(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.
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
24February2020(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 George
Daisy May Cooper & Charlie Cooper
2March2020(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 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
9March2020(2020-03-09)
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
16March2020(2020-03-16)
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
23March2020(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." 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." 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." 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."
On 4 December 2019, an American adaptation of the series was announced by Fox, developed by Jenny Bicks and directed by Paul Feig. On 30 January 2020, it was announced that the production had been given a pilot order. 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. On 17 May 2021, it was announced that the title of the American series had been changed from This Country to Welcome to Flatch.
Welcome to Flatch premiered on 17 March 2022 and ran until 2 February 2023, spanning two seasons. The series was cancelled in October 2023.
Books
in October 2019 a tie-in book, entitled This Is This Country: The official book of the BAFTA award-winning show, was published.
