INTERVIEW: Star of BBC's This Country is angling fanatic
“This is my best interview ever – for once I’m talking to someone who’s willing to listen to me talk about fishing!”
Charlie Cooper’s enthusiasm for angling is clear from the moment our chat begins. The 28-year-old is the co-star and co-creator of BBC Three mockumentary This Country, which recently returned for a second series.
Charlie Cooper as Kurtan in This Country
The exquisitely observed comedy was created by Charlie and his sister Daisy – they play cousins ‘Kurtan’ and Kerry Mucklowe – and draws on the pair’s own experiences of everyday life in a Cotswolds village.
Charlie was taken fishing by his dad as a youngster, but returned to the sport seriously fairly recently.
He said: “Two or three years ago I became totally obsessed, it’s consumed my life!
“It coincided with work getting busy and it’s just a great way of escaping and completely switching off. I like doing things that I’m completely consumed by.
“On the bank I don’t have to think about anything other than fishing.
“My dad worked in a school with kids in an exclusion zone and he would take them fishing. It was amazing that fishing was one of the only things the kids would focus on.
“It’s amazing what it can do, it can teach you so many things.”
This Country was created by and stars Charlie and his sister Daisy
Charlie fishes for a range of species, aided by the variety of venues available close to his home.
“At the moment I love river fishing – I live in the Cotswolds and the Thames is close by, and the Avon isn’t too far away.
“One thing I haven’t quite got into yet is carp fishing – it seems the lakes around me are always so packed with carp anglers, so it’s hard to get a swim – but I’m sure that’s the next step.”
Carping might be the next stage of Charlie’s fishing career, but he’s already had plenty of memorable moments.
Charlie's 14lb Thames barbel
“At Buscot on the Thames last summer I had a 14lb barbel. I wasn’t aware there were many in there and I had 5lb line and a John Wilson Avon Quiver rod that was almost bent in two – it was about a 20-minute fight!
“I actually sent it into Angling Times and you published a photo – I need to get it framed! I also had a 13lb 8oz barbel at Christmas.”
Aside from barbel, perch are one of Charlie’s favourite species and his inspiration comes from a source familiar to many fishermen.
“I’m a massive Chris Yates fan – A Passion for Angling sort of changed my life. I love those programmes and the vintage tackle.”
Filming This Country takes four or five weeks of the year and the rest of Charlie’s time is spent writing, affording the Fulham FC fan plenty of time to go fishing.
Charlie managed to get a fishing scene into series two, but would love to write more about the sport
“I’m lucky that we can dictate when we work. I can work in the morning then get out fishing in the afternoon or evening. When the weather is good, I’m pretty much able to pick when I go.”
Episode four of the current series (available on iPlayer from March 19) features a fishing plotline, and Charlie told Angling Times he would be very keen to create a comedy based on the sport.
“I would love to write something purely about fishing. All of the characters you meet…from the bailiffs to the people you meet in the clubhouse.
“I was speaking to the first AD [assistant director] on the show and he’s into fishing, and we talked about people who go sea fishing – they’re like a different breed and I’d love to write something about that.”
The whole of series one of This Country is currently available on iPlayer, along with current episodes of series two.