BBC3 brings back This Country cousins

This Country follows two cousins living in a small English village

UK OTT service BBC3 has ordered a third run of hit mockumentary This Country, the second season of which aired on linear flagship BBC1.

The show, about two cousins living in a small village, is written by and stars siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, with BBC Studios producing. It began its second season on BBC3 in February before airing on BBC1 on Tuesday nights.

The BBC said the show has had over 11 million iPlayer requests to date and on BBC1 has won its slot every week, with an average 13% audience share.

Shane Allen, controller of comedy commissioning, said: “Once in a while a show lands fully formed and audiences take it to their hearts immediately.

“Daisy and Charlie’s characters and world have struck a chord with viewers of all ages as their sharp writing delivers a winning mix of heartfelt moments and punchy belly laughs, all performed to comic perfection.”

A 40-minute special has also been ordered which will begin filming this summer, with the six-part third season set to go into production next year.

The second season is available on BBC iPlayer as a boxset until the end of September.

Meanwhile, BBC2 has ordered Thatcher (working title, 5×60′) from BBC Studios’ Documentary Unit.

The show will explore Margaret Thatcher’s life as she rose to become the UK’s first female prime minister and one of the most divisive characters in the country’s political history.

The documentary series has been commissioned by Patrick Holland, controller of BBC2 and Tom McDonald, head of natural history and specialist factual. The commissioning editor is Simon Young.