David Farnor | On 14, Feb 2018

This Country will return this month for its second season, BBC Three has confirmed.

One of online channel’s best new comedies from last year, the mockumentary is set in the village of Northleach, exploring the lives of young people in modern rural Britain. The new season continues to focus on cousins Kerry and Lee ‘Kurtan’ Mucklowe, played by siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, who also write the show, and their lives in a typical Cotswold community.

“They’re surrounded by the typical supporting cast of eccentric characters, but This Country opts for sympathy over stereotypes, something that makes the laughs notably slower to build, yet more rewarding,” we wrote in our review of the show’s first season, which is still available on BBC iPlayer as a box set. “There’s a sadness and a silliness to the show, as it taps into a marginalised community with heart, wit and a lot of swearing.”

The first season was watched more than four million times on BBC iPlayer, leading BBC Three to make a swift renewal for a second run. Now, the channel has revealed that the Mucklowe’s sophomore outing will begin on Monday 26th February on BBC iPlayer, with new episodes arriving weekly.

To get you in the mood, here’s Kerry And Kurtan Mucklowe in their home town:

 

BBC Three’s This Country to preview Season 2 in Gloucestershire

16th January 2018

BBC Three’s This Country returns this year for a second season, and the online channel is giving fans the chance to see the new episodes in person before anyone else.

One of BBC Three’s best new comedies from last year, the mockumentary is set in the village of Northleach, exploring the lives of young people in modern rural Britain. The new season continues to focus on cousins Kerry and Lee ‘Kurtan’ Mucklowe and their lives in a typical Cotswold community. The first season has been watched more than four million times on BBC iPlayer.

Written by and starring Gloucestershire-based siblings Daisy and Charlie Cooper, BBC Three is now giving people in their home region the chance to attend a free preview screening. Held in Cirencester on Monday 5th February, the screening is a balloted event and will see fans join the cast and production team for the screening of two episodes from the new season, followed by a Q&A session hosted by BBC Points West’s Steve Knibbs.

The stars of the series, Charlie and Daisy Cooper, are expected at the event, along with producer Simon Mayhew-Archer and director Tom George.

Pat Connor, director of BBC South West, says: “It’s great news that BBC Three are previewing This Country in its Gloucestershire home. This is a very special opportunity for comedy fans to enjoy two episodes of the new series and hear from the uniquely-talented cast and crew on their home turf.”

Simon Mayhew-Archer, producer of This Country, adds: “The reaction to the first series of This County was fantastic and we are hoping fans love this next look at the lives of Kerry and Kurtan just as much. It’s an honour to be previewing it in Cirencester, a place which Daisy and Charlie are proud to call home.”

The ticket draw is now open and closes on 10pm on Sunday 21st January. Everyone who registers will be entered into a random draw. To apply for tickets go to www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours.

Season 1 is available to view on BBC iPlayer as a box set.

 

BBC Three renews This Country for Season 2

18th July 2017

This Country will return for a second season.

BBC Three has ordered six more episodes of the mockumentary sitcom from BBC Studios.

The series, which is written by and stars siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, explore the lives of cousins Kerry and Lee ‘Kurtan’ Mucklowe, two young people growing up in the village of Northleach in the Cotswolds.

“They’re surrounded by the typical supporting cast of eccentric characters, but This Country opts for sympathy over stereotypes, something that makes the laughs notably slower to build, yet more rewarding,” we wrote in our review of the show’s first season, which is still available on BBC iPlayer as a box set. “There’s a sadness and a silliness to the show, as it taps into a marginalised community with heart, wit and a lot of swearing.”

“We are beyond thrilled to have a second series. We wrote something else in case this wasn’t recommissioned which ended up being exactly the same plot as the BBC drama ‘Life On Mars’. So this second series is a godsend really as we can’t do anything else,” say the Cooper siblings.

The series is commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning and Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three.

Allen adds: “It’s been a pure joy to see Daisy and Charlie get the recognition their talents deserve with this show. It has been an instant hit with the audience and they’ve got cracking ideas for the series ahead.”

The show launched in February 2017 on BBC Three with a slot on BBC One, racking up a hefty 4 million iPlayer requests to date, placing it just behind BBC Two’s White Gold, the year’s second biggest BBC comedy, which was also recently renewed for a follow-up season.

Season 2 will film this autumn in Northleach and will return to BBC Three in 2018.

For more on what’s available on BBC Three, see our fortnightly guide to what’s new and worth watching.

 

BBC Three joins Comic Relief with This Country special

24th March 2017

BBC Three will be joining in the Comic Relief celebrations tonight on BBC One with a special from This Country.

The mockumentary, which is written by and starring Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, explores the lives of young people in modern rural Britain, focusing on cousins Kerry and Kurtan and their lives in the Cotswolds.

“They’re surrounded by the typical supporting cast of eccentric characters, but This Country opts for sympathy over stereotypes, something that makes the laughs notably slower to build, yet more rewarding,” we wrote in our review of the show’s first season, which is currently available on BBC iPlayer as a box set. “There’s a sadness and a silliness to the show, as it taps into a marginalised community with heart, wit and a lot of swearing.”

Tonight, BBC camera crews return to the Cotswolds to follow the fundraising efforts of Kerry and Kurtan for Red Nose Day. The cousins are characteristically overzealous in their attempts to raise money, and when a stall selling squash doesn’t quite go to plan they turn their attentions on their friend Sluggs (Michael Sleggs), much to the dismay of the vicar (Paul Chahidi).

This Country joins a line up of other specials for the BBC One telethon, including Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief and a Love Actually reunion. The whole thing kicks off at 7pm on BBC One.

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