History UsefulNotes / TheWestCountry

* Most working class characters from series/TheArchers ''sound'' like they're from here even though the series is allegedly set in TheMidlands. The series was originally conceived at a time when not many BBC employees would have known the difference, and it's stood ever since.

* Stephen Merchant makes yet another comedian, co-writer of ''Series/TheOfficeUK'' and ''Series/{{Extras}}'' (with a small part in the first, and larger part in the second) and also voiced Wheatley in ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''. He also brought an authentic West Country accent to ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' where he played Amy Farrah-Fowler's second boyfriend.

* Stephen Merchant makes yet another comedian, co-writer of ''Series/TheOfficeUK'' and ''Series/{{Extras}}'' (with a small part in the first, and larger part in the second) and also voiced Wheatley in ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''.

* Location filming for the MontyPython suceesor show ''Series/RutlandWeekendTelevision'' was done in Bristol. Creator/NeilInnes' parody of Music/StevieWonder's ''Superstition'' ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjyvP1qMucY "Front Loader"]]) can be identified as being on one particular street.

* The Parkinson family of ''Series/{{Butterflies}}'', which was filmed on location in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - although until the final episode stated outright that they lived in Cheltenham, most viewers assumed it was [[EnglandIsOnlyLondon an upscale suburb of London]].

* Since TripHop got started in Bristol, its early creators embody this: Music/MassiveAttack, Music/{{Portishead}} (named after their hometown) and {{Tricky}} (from Knowle West, Bristol).

* Robert Newton, English actor, whose portrayal of Long John Silver in ''Literature/TreasureIsland'' using an exaggerated form of his native Dorset accent gave the world the TalkLikeAPirate trope. Arrrr!

* Although Creator/TerryPratchett was born in Buckinghamshire, his family moved to Somerset when he was a child and he's spent much of his adult life in Somerset and then Wiltshire.

Plymouth and most of West Devon are liberally drenched in references to Sir Francis Drake, British National Hero of the 16th Century and the last interesting person to come out of the county (apart from actor twins HarryAndLukeTreadaway); Plymouth is also the site of the Mayflower Steps and the departure of various soon-to-be-Americans from the country.[[note]]Apparently, we've just said that no-one who left to found America was worth noting. Moving on...[[/note]]

** [[Creator/KarenGillan Amy Pond]] in was born in Scotland and moved to a village about twenty miles out of Gloucester when she was a kid.

* Ross Hornby of ''LetsPlay/HatFilms'' is from Swindon.

* Jenson Button: 2009 FormulaOne world champion. Born in Frome, Somerset.

** In fact, that's why JamesEarlJones dubbed him over; Prowse's voice was just to friendly.
* Since TripHop got started in Bristol, its early creators embody this: MassiveAttack, {{Portishead}} (named after their hometown) and {{Tricky}} (from Knowle West, Bristol).

* ''DocMartin'' is set in a small [[QuirkyTown fishing village]] somewhere Cornwall-ish.

* ''Series/{{Skins}}'' is set in Bristol, and the characters exhibit or encounter those who exhibit certain West Country stereotypes

Pretty cheesed off that GordonBrown's government imposed a 10% price increase on cider, as if that was unexpected. Luckily that hike was scrapped because of the impending elections in order to save other pieces of legislation.

Generally West Country folk share more of a rivalry with the [[UsefulNotes/{{Wales}} Welsh]] than the rest of England. Part of this is due to the allegations that the Welsh were unhappy with the fact that the first Severn Bridge had its toll booth on the English side, prompting the second bridge to have the booth on the Welsh side.

* Creator/SimonPegg: The comedian and actor was born in Gloucester. The film ''HotFuzz'' was set in a fictional West Country town which pretty much showcases the typical West Country stereotypes.

Known for producing huge amounts of cider and scrumpy, cheddar cheese,[[note]]To which Somerset is the original home; the village of Cheddar is there.[[/note]] clotted cream and Cornish pasties. Naturally, they are all consumed in greater quantities down there than in the rest of the UK. Also gave us the UsefulNotes/GlastonburyFestival too and also is the location of Stonehenge in Wiltshire. Also, [[OopNorth Yorkshireman]] PatrickStewart trained as an actor in this area. Weston-super-Mare in Somerset was also fairly well known for its pier by the beach and was an icon in the West Country; the pier was seriously damaged by a fire in 2009, but has reopened as of late 2010. Is also quite popular amongst engineers due to having such marvels like the Severn Bridges and the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, the fact Bristol also had an important role in the Aerospace Industry and helped build Concorde also helps, Concorde's last flight ended up returning it to Bristol, where it now stands at Filton Airport until a permanent museum can be built. The local airport also started doing flights from there to New York City a few years back. Bristol also is somewhat notorious for its relationship with {{Pirates}} because the Bristol Channel coast was a major sea-trade region during the age of pirates, and the coast was a notoriously dangerous for shipwrecks (not always accidental), so some of the speech is derived from pirate jargon (Plymouth and Cornwall also have the pirate association, since many pirates came out of Plymouth and Cornwall's economy was once 90% reliant on smuggling!). Has recently had some of the city renovated and tidied up. Word of advice though: Avoid Knowle West unless you absolutely have to go there, although that area is improving.

The West Country is the informal term for the area of the UnitedKingdom that encompasses the counties of UsefulNotes/{{Cornwall}}, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol. Known for being very rural with towns and cities being small and spread out (resulting in very poor support for the Labour Party, who came ''fifth'' in European elections) As such it's mostly depicted on TV as farmer towns where the inhabitants wear wellies and tweed and speak with [[UsefulNotes/BritishAccents thick Somerset accents]], even though the majority of people living in the South West actually speak perfectly standard English. Known to everyone else as "Mummerset". Expect plenty of 'oo-ar's!' to be heard and some cunning wit or action to follow. Was known as "Zedland" to wits in the 19th century, owing to the way the accent turns S to Z ("Oi be drinkin' zoider!") Generally a laid-back set of counties too, especially considering the amount of comedians the area has produced. Bristol is the only major city in the region [[note]]other important towns and cities include Plymouth, Exeter and Swindown as well as the Gloucester/Cheltenham and Bournemouth/Poole conurbations[[/note]] and as such is the focal point for most events of notice.

The West Country is the informal term for the area of the UnitedKingdom that encompasses the counties of UsefulNotes/{{Cornwall}}, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol. Known for being very rural with towns and cities being small and spread out (resulting in very poor support for the Labour Party, who came ''fifth'' in European elections) As such it's mostly depicted on TV as farmer towns where the inhabitants wear wellies and tweed and speak with [[UsefulNotes/BritishAccents thick Somerset accents]], even though the majority of people living in the South West actually speak perfectly standard English. Known to everyone else as "Mummerset". Expect plenty of 'oo-ar's!' to be heard and some cunning wit or action to follow. Was known as "Zedland" to wits in the 19th century, owing to the way the accent turns S to Z ("Oi be drinkin' zoider!") Generally a laid-back set of counties too, especially considering the amount of comedians the area has produced. Bristol is the only major city in the region (although Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Exeter, Torbay, Bournemouth and Plymouth are fairly populated) and as such is the focal point for most events of notice.

-->-- '''The Wurzels'''

The West Country is the informal term for the area of the UnitedKingdom that encompasses the counties of UsefulNotes/{{Cornwall}}, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol. Known for being very rural with towns and cities being small and spread out (resulting in very poor support for the Labour Party, who came ''fifth'' in European elections and subsequently strong support for the Lib Dems!). As such it's mostly depicted on TV as farmer towns where the inhabitants wear wellies and tweed and speak with [[UsefulNotes/BritishAccents thick Somerset accents]], even though the majority of people living in the South West actually speak perfectly standard English. Known to everyone else as "Mummerset". Expect plenty of 'oo-ar's!' to be heard and some cunning wit or action to follow. Was known as "Zedland" to wits in the 19th century, owing to the way the accent turns S to Z ("Oi be drinkin' zoider!") Generally a laid-back set of counties too, especially considering the amount of comedians the area has produced. Bristol is the only major city in the region (although Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Exeter, Torbay, Bournemouth and Plymouth are fairly populated) and as such is the focal point for most events of notice.