Daisy May Cooper slates her father in sweary podcast rant
The This Country co-creator has opened up about difficult family memories during a podcast interview with her brother Charlie Cooper, revealing the pair revisited their upbringing and reached a stark conclusion about their father.
Daisy May Cooper has branded her father Paul Cooper a “narcissist” in a foul-mouthed rant.
The comic and actress, 39, hit out as she and her brother Charlie, 37, discussed their upbringing during an appearance on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, which saw the siblings reflect on what they called their “messed up” childhood despite now being close to him.
They revisited their complex family dynamics that predated their success as the creators and stars of the BAFTA-winning BBC mockumentary This Country.
The pair, who also cast Paul as their on-screen father in the acclaimed comedy, have previously spoken about growing up in a two-bedroom council house while their family faced financial hardship.
The interview comes as Daisy remains in the spotlight following the BBC’s confirmation that her dark comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, which she co-created and stars in alongside Selin Hizli, will return for a third and final series after filming began this summer.
Speaking about conversations they have had as adults, Charlie said: “We did have a period where we just talk and it was all about stuff that happened as kids.”
Daisy said: “It was like childhood stuff that you are just remembering stuff together and you go, ‘F***, our dad is a f****** narcissist and he f***** us up really loads.
“That’s the only thing we came to a conclusion on. We don’t know whether ghosts exist, but we know our dad’s a f****** narcissist.’”
Charlie replied: “You take after him!”
Daisy answered: “Yes so do you, yes you f****** do.”
The siblings have frequently described their upbringing as unconventional, with their experiences providing much of the inspiration for This Country, the BBC comedy that won multiple BAFTAs and established Daisy and Charlie as two of Britain’s best-known comedy writers and performers.
Paul also appeared throughout the series as Martin Mucklowe, playing the father of Daisy’s character, Kerry, and Charlie’s character, Kurtan.
More recently, Daisy has balanced comedy with darker television roles through Am I Being Unreasonable?, in which she plays Nic opposite Selin Hizli’s Jen.
The comedy thriller has become one of the BBC’s most acclaimed recent dramas, with the broadcaster confirming it will conclude with a third and final series.
Filming is under way in Bristol, Gloucestershire and across the west of England, with Lenny Rush, Dustin Demri-Burns, Joe Wilkinson and Allan Mustafa among the returning and new cast members.
Last year, Daisy revealed production on the second series faced continuity challenges after she underwent a dramatic physical transformation before filming resumed.
Speaking on the BBC podcast How To Be In The Spotlight, Daisy said: “Series one is meant to be 30 seconds before series two and in that 30 seconds I’ve lost about 10 stone and had my lips done.
“I saw the rushes and I said to the BBC, ‘God, we’re going to have a disclaimer at the beginning saying – Daisy has had her lips done, go with it and please don’t judge.’”
Discussing her recent weight loss, Daisy said: “I’m so for body positivity but when I was at my biggest I was at my most miserable and I had a massive food addiction.
“I wasn’t healthy. I couldn’t breathe when I was walking up the stairs. I was so unhappy.
“And I’ve had some messages like, ‘Well, now you’ve lost the weight you’re not funny any more.’
“What the f***? Why do women have to be f****** fat to be funny? That makes me so angry. I champion anybody. I think everybody should be happy with their body. But I wasn’t.”
Daisy separated from her former husband, Will Weston, in 2021 and has since spoken openly about changes in her personal life alongside her career, while continuing to write and star in both Am I Being Unreasonable? and projects following the success of This Country.
