28^th November: Today, BBC and Naked West (a Fremantle label) announce the return of Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country, with an alternative Christmas special. After a hugely successful series launch in October, Charlie is back, and this time, he’s exploring winter festivals across the country from barrel burning in Devon to Morris dancing in Gloucestershire.

Coming to BBC Three and iPlayer, the BAFTA and RTS award-winning writer and actor, will once again be travelling and camping in his yellow campervan, as he delves in to the country’s Pagan past, gaining a deeper understanding of the winter solstice, a celebration in which there has been renewed interest.

The Barrel Burning festival in Devon’s Ottery Saint Mary is also on Charlie’s wintery itinerary. Having been held every November since the 17^th century, the townspeople believe that by lighting barrels filled with tar and running through the streets, they can protect their community from malevolent forces.

Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country: Winter Solstice comes after Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country launched with a three-part series in October, with the first episode reaching a total of 1.4m over 28 days for individuals 4+. The sincere and well-reviewed documentary saw Charlie investigating everything from Crop Circles in Wiltshire to roaming ghost dogs on the coast and countryside of East Anglia, meeting some fascinating people as he made his way across the beautiful English countryside.

Charlie Cooper says: “I’m thrilled that the BBC cameras will follow me again as I explore our wonderful, wild and sometimes hair-raising winter festivals, which for centuries have brightened up the darker months.”

Tom O’Brien, MD of Naked and Executive Producer says: “Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country immediately connected with a large and engaged audience on the BBC. We’re excited to bring it back for another look at a special moment in the year’s calendar – one steeped in lore, tradition and storytelling. Charlie will continue to feed his passion for the weird and the wonderful.”

Nasfim Haque, Head of Content, BBC Three says: “Audiences will be delighted that Charlie is back for a solstice special after his first outing attracted so much love. Charlie getting the inside track from unique festivals across the UK is going to be the perfect winter warmer.”

Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country: Winter Solstice was commissioned by Catherine Catton, Senior Head of Commissioning and Nasfim Haque, Head of Content for BBC Three. The series is made by Naked West, a Fremantle label. The Executive Producers for Naked West are Tom O’Brien and John Comerford and Series Producer Director is Rob Gill. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Patrick McMahon.

The 1 x 30’ special Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country: Winter Solstice will air on BBC Three and iPlayer later this year with all previous episodes available to stream here on BBC iPlayer.