This Country star leads vampire resistance in new show

The first episode of new comedy series starring West Country actor Charlie Cooper will be televised later.

Based on Eric Morecambe's books The Reluctant Vampire, the series was filmed in a number of locations across the West of England, including Gloucestershire's Woodchester Mansion and Saxon Barn.

It features Cooper as John, who leads a group of villagers and a resistance against the vampire community, alongside stars such as BAFTA winner Lenny Rush, Tom Davis, Sian Clifford, Asim Chaudhry and Ross Noble.

A spokesperson for the mansion said: "If you know Woodchester, you'll understand why our atmospheric Gothic Mansion makes such a perfect setting for a family of vampires."

The series is about a young vampire called Val, played by Rush, who is raised in an aristocratic vampire family but discovers he is actually human.

He previously told the BBC: "I loved any scenes with Tom and Asim, because I'd just be trying not to laugh the whole time. They are both hilarious."

Davis said: "It felt like a really special thing to be trusted to work on a show that felt it was part of the Eric Morecambe legacy," he said.

Cuckoo star Esther Smith, who plays Cooper's wife Susan, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "It's such a brilliant idea. Eric Morecambe wrote these books, I had no idea he wrote these children's books.

"They've made it into this brilliant, hilarious script which in moments is quite dark but so very silly.

"With the cast surrounding it, it's a real hoot."

The show joins a number of other big series filmed across the West Country this year, including Rivals and Young Sherlock.

It comes as leaders across the West of England hope to attract more film crews to this region and have won new funding to help the area become the UK's capital for film.

Councillor Lisa Spivey, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "We're delighted that Gloucestershire has been featured in The Reluctant Vampire.

"It's another fantastic opportunity to showcase everything the county has to offer and shine a spotlight on some of our unique locations."

The Reluctant Vampire premieres on BBC One on Sunday at 18:40 BST, with the full series available on BBC iPlayer.

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