Charlie and Daisy May Cooper in This Country (Image: BBC)
Rural residents, your prayers have been answered!
At last, there’s a series that captures the essence of countryside living – and you can watch it for free on iPlayer.
‘This Country’ is being celebrated as the quintessential show for anyone who’s experienced life in a UK village or small town, where creating your own fun is part of daily life. This multi BAFTA-winning mockumentary has struck a chord with rural viewers, with one fan saying, “as someone who grew up in the countryside, this series is spot on. Love it,” reflecting the collective sentiment.
Taking place in a quaint Cotswolds hamlet, ‘This Country’ chronicles the exploits of close-knit cousins Kurtan and Kerry Mucklowe, played by real-life siblings Charlie and Daisy May Cooper. The show hilariously portrays the often uneventful day-to-day existence in the sticks.
A significant portion of the comedy centres on their unexpected bond with the local vicar, Rev Francis Seaton, brought to life flawlessly by Paul Chahidi, reports .
It’s been hailed a perfect slice of country life (Image: BBC/Ollie Upton)
The Coopers have been hailed as “geniuses” for their creation of this dry comedy, with a user gushing: “I absolutely adore it. It’s one of the few programs that makes me laugh aloud even I’d I’m alone. The Coopers are geniuses!”
This creative duo has cleverly cast various family members in different roles, including their father, Paul Cooper, as Kerry’s estranged father, and their uncle, Trevor Cooper, as the contentious local Len Clifton. Despite its mockumentary format, the show is underpinned by a genuine warmth, devoid of any malice across its 19 episodes.
Critics have lavished praise on the series, with one remarking: “All of human life is here, in this bleak, hugely funny, intimate, seemingly slight yet ridiculously potent series of six perfectly formed half-hours. ” Another reviewer succinctly stated: “Simply hilarious, a must watch!”, while another expressed delight, saying, “What a lovely surprise!”.
Real-life siblings Charlie and Daisy May Cooper (Image: David M. Benett)
Further acclaim came from another user who described the show as “terrific”, dubbing it “a comedic slice of provincial life,” while another fan enthused: “I’m currently rewatching the whole lot on the iPlayer, such a brilliantly written show. The performances all seem so natural, and it’s got so many memorable lines.”
One viewer who was won over by the show revealed they initially thought they would dislike it, but ended up being pleasantly surprised, saying: “I thought that I would hate this show, but was completely wrong.
“The characters are beautifully observed and the slow pace is entirely appropriate. This is so well written and the cast take us to emotional places that we would not expect. It is pure gold.