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How to Start Your Own Country

2005

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1
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EP1 Birth Of A Nation Aug 03, 2005

Wallace investigates territory for his proposed country, beginning by visiting Sealand. He meets the man who owns the Moon, he "invades" Eel Pie Island but leaves his post of "leader" when the Police are called. He makes friends with the Major General of the British Army. He eventually decides upon the area of his flat as the Territory and makes a declaration of Independence which he gives to Tony Blair.

EP2 Citizens Required Aug 10, 2005

With the help of an advertising agency, Wallace chooses a design for the flag of his country. He records a national anthem, which is played during his interview on Iain Lee's LBC show.

EP3 For King And Country Aug 17, 2005

Danny Wallace meets the SAS (Second amandment sisters) and meets the King of Fusa. He also goes to The Principality of Seborga.

EP4 State Of A Nation Aug 24, 2005

Wallace visits two very different 'utopian' communities, the planned town of Celebration which maintains its pleasantness through strict rules and regulations, and the anarchic self governing neighbourhood of Christiania. He also speaks to a Catholic Cardinal about the role of religion in society and to Sheriff Joe Arpaio about law and order. A sombre visit to death row and an interview with a death row prisoner leads him to decide against the death penalty in his country.

EP5 The Bank Of Danny Aug 31, 2005

When he struggles to pay his electricity bill, Wallace begins to kick-start his country's economy. He investigates the National Debt, with advice from former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke. He designs his own currency, the IOU (Interdependent Occupational Unit), which he shows to Andrew Bailey, the Chief Cashier at the Bank of England. He also discovers the Principality of New Utopia and interviews the UK Pro Consul, Tony Nicodemous. He applies for international aid, and fails, due to the wealth of his citizens.

EP6 The United Nation Sep 07, 2005

Wallace attempts to enter the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with a song called "Stop the Muggin', Start the Huggin'". In an attempt to officially become a country, he travels to New York to try to win the support of the United Nations. The lack of a territory lets him down. This final episode ends with a gathering of citizens in Leicester Square, where Wallace reveals that the country is to be called Lovely.
7.7| 0h30m| NR| en
Synopsis

Follows intrepid Wallace—famous for starting the Random Acts of Kindness collective—on his unlikely odyssey to start his own country.

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Reviews

Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.
Helllins It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.
Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.
Celia A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
bob the moo When he finds out that a man has claimed an abandoned platform built in former international waters and called it Sealand, an independent country, Danny Wallace is inspired. He decides to get shot of the UK and set up his own country where he is the king. Despite initial problems finding a piece of the earth not already claimed, Danny eventually settles into his own home and sets up borders. As he tries to grow his land he deals with other politicians, policy setters and colourful characters around the world.The concept is a good one and it sets up the series to be a funny and insightful look at the idea of nations and the various aspects that they have to decide upon (immigration, crime etc). By thinking about these things in regards his own country, Wallace could have made this a very interesting programme with plenty to say about the country we live in. However it never manages to push the boat out this far and instead is all rather nice and fluffy, producing an amusing product but almost always missing the potential it had to be interesting and useful. The quick pace and very gentle comic air don't help it because it does just feel like it is full of air and nice-thoughts rather than being full of debate, commentary or thought.Wallace matches this approach perfectly though, because he is such a woolly guy that one cannot fail to like him. The influence of Dave Gorman's shows are very clear on both the material and on his own style but, as per my criticisms above, this isn't always a good thing. He carries the show well enough but his delivery is one of the reasons that it doesn't stick in the mind or turn out to have any real substance to it. The "experts" and interviews are rarely given much time to make an impression and most often they are used to drive the show forward rather than provide anything interesting or useful; examples are evident from the very start when the sole resident of Sealand is barely allowed to speak – I wanted to know more about him and Wallace just wasted it.Overall then, this is a nicely comic little show but one that lacks any real substance or consequence. The potential was there to make points, generate debate and make it a real talking point between viewers but instead it is all a bit fluffy and focuses on being warm and amusing instead of cutting and funny. Hard to dislike but certainly not a series that will stick in the memory for very long after you finish watching it.