This Country's Paul Cooper based Martin Mucklowe on serial killer Fred West

This Country dad Martin Mucklowe was based on serial killer Fred West - star Paul Cooper has revealed.

The popular BBC mockumentary comedy is written by siblings Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, who play cousins Kerry and Kurtain.

The show is very much a family affair, with character Martin, who is Kerry’s dad, being played by the pair’s real dad Paul. His brother Trevor Cooper also appears as Len.

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Despite having no previous acting experience, Cooper senior was convinced to try for the part, and was advised to base his character mannerisms on the evil West.

Paul told Metro.co.uk: “Daisy said ‘you kinda look like me and we have the same genes so why don’t you give it a go and do a screen test?’

“They said ‘listen to the police interviews of Fred West – that quiet kind of voice but saying chilling things’ so I went on YouTube and listened to those and got the voice.”

The character proves something of a villain throughout the show, moving between indifferent towards daughter Kerry and slightly menacing towards people who disagree with him. His also rumoured to be a voyeur.

The character even mentions knowing Fred West, saying he played pool with him and praising his skills as a builder - a scene Cooper says he ad-libbed during the screen test.

The scene sees Martin Mucklowe say he knows West did “some iffy things” but adds “as a builder he was top notch”.

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Along with wife Rose, West killed at least 12 people including her eight-year-old stepdaughter Charmaine and 16-year-old daughter Heather.

Some victims were buried at their home in Gloucester - the address was later demolished.

Paul and daughter Daisy have been seen recently taking part in the celebrity edition of Channel 4 show Gogglebox.